Freshman Snapshot Three straight years of near-record enrollments ... but that’s just part of the picture.

The Ethics of End-of-Life Care: Creighton Centennial Feature: Lessons to be Learned Rebuilding Hope The School of Pharmacy from the Schiavo Case After the Tsunami and Health Professions Fall 2005 View the magazine online at: FALL 2005 www.creightonmagazine.org University Magazine

Fantastic Freshmen ...... 18 Not since 1979 has Creighton seen a bigger freshman class than the one arriving on campus this fall. The class is bright, diverse and full of potential. This class also marks a three-year trend of near-record enrollments. So what’s happening on the hilltop? We check in with Creighton’s admissions team.

The Ethics of End-of-Life Care: Lessons to be Learned from the Schiavo Case ...... 24 There is a renewed public interest surrounding issues of end-of-life care after the high profile 18 case of Terri Schiavo. Professor Jos Welie from Creighton’s Center for Health Policy and Ethics — along with colleagues from the Center and from law, theology and philosophy — takes a closer look at those issues and what we can learn from the Schiavo case.

Rebuilding Hope...... 30 Creighton photographer the Rev. Don Doll, S.J., spent several weeks this spring in tsunami-ravaged areas of Sri Lanka and India chronicling the tremendous work of the Jesuits in the aftermath of the destruction. The Jesuits are helping a struggling people rebuild homes, livelihoods and — perhaps most importantly — hope.

Creighton Centennial Feature: 24 The School of Pharmacy and Health Professions ...... 38 Creighton’s School of Pharmacy and Health Professions is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. While the pharmacy profession has changed drastically over the past 100 years, one thing hasn’t changed: Creighton’s leadership in education and pharmacological research. We take a look at two innovative researchers, Chris Destache and Alekha Dash, who are investigating the possibilities of more precise and effective drug delivery through nanotechnology.

The Priest and the Troublemaker ...... xxxxxxxx While growing up, Matt Holland knew Creighton alumnus Denny Holland ------as simply Dad — a quiet, unassuming life insurance salesman. It wasn’t ------30 until later that he more fully discovered his father’s relationship with a fiery Creighton Jesuit and his role in the civil rights movement in Omaha.

Letters to the Editor ...... 4 On The Cover University News ...... 5 Creighton freshman Stephanie Heuring, front, with her fellow classmates, Alumni News...... 42 from left, Thomas Smaldone, Josh Dotzler, Creighton Connections ...... 47 Allan Williams and Megan Manning. Reflections ...... 54 38 The Last Word ...... 55

CONTACT US: Editor — Rick Davis, (402) 280-1785, [email protected] • Associate Editor — Sheila Swanson, (402) 280-2069, [email protected] View the magazine online at: www.creightonmagazine.org. Message from the University President

The Arts and Creighton

American author Theodore Dreiser once described art as the University but at “stored honey of the human soul.” various venues The fine arts, indeed, serve as an essential element of our shared locally and regionally. humanness, and have always played a prominent role in Jesuit In 2004, for example, education. Creighton staged The We are blessed to have a wonderfully diverse arts community Threepenny Opera in here in Omaha — one that both enriches and is enriched by our fine conjunction with Opera and performing arts department here at Creighton. We offer here Omaha, and three students but a glimpse. served as understudies. In October, downtown Omaha and the Omaha Performing Arts This spring, Creighton hosted ACT- Society will lift the curtain on the new $90 million Holland Performing SO (the Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) Arts Center, which will feature classical and symphonic music, popular — a major youth initiative of the NAACP, in which high school music, chamber ensembles, cabaret artists, and speakers and lectures. students compete in a variety of disciplines, including fine arts. The Joslyn Art Museum enters its 74th year as Creighton’s beloved Creighton also partners with the Hope Center, providing at-risk neighbor, and the bond remains strong. The museum, opened in 1931, youth a chance to perform on stage, and with the Omaha uses our facilities for some of its community workshops, and our Archdiocese, providing space and workshops for the Music in students, faculty and staff benefit from having a first-class art Catholic Schools program. museum in “our backyard.” Our faculty members are engaged in the community. One example Creighton also has been intimately involved with the Nebraska is Creighton’s Littleton Alston, who created a 1,000-pound bronze Shakespeare Festival and its annual Shakespeare on the Green, since sculpture of a jazz trio for North Omaha’s Dreamland Plaza and a its beginnings nearly 20 years ago. The festival flourishes in the 9-foot-tall, 2,000-pound bronze sculpture of the Rev. Martin Luther spirit of the Jesuit Institute for the Arts, which was held on campus King Jr. positioned near the City-County Building; and a sculpture some 25 years ago and featured Shakespearean plays in our own of St. Ignatius erected in front of our Reinert Alumni Memorial Jesuit gardens. Today, Shakespeare on the Green is held in Elmwood Library and created in honor of Creighton’s 125th anniversary. Park, in cooperation with the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and There are many others: from Marilyn Kielniarz and her 14-piece attracts about 35,000 people each summer for its free performances. Indonesian gamelan; to Alan Klem and Fred Hanna and their Creighton theater professor Alan Klem is a founding director, and original musical Lewis and Clark; to the Rev. Michael Flecky, S.J., and theater coordinator Bill Van Deest serves as associate artistic his stunning photos of North African ruins; to Lisa Carter and her director. Creighton also provides office and rehearsal space. exquisite dance productions. Creighton’s Lied Education Center for the Arts annually hosts 15 As for myself, I cautiously accepted the lead role in Opera to 16 musical concerts, four theatrical productions and two dance Omaha’s upcoming production of Paul Bunyan. I am looking productions, along with six to nine gallery exhibits. These productions forward to providing the off-stage voice for the legendary and exhibits attract more than 3,000 attendees annually and are lumberjack. partially funded by the generous support of the Richard and Mary Please enjoy this issue of Creighton University Magazine, and may McCormick Endowment Fund for the Fine and Performing Arts. God bless you and yours. Some 1,000 students take classes in art, graphic arts, dance, music and theater at Creighton every semester (40 to 50 are fine arts majors). These students perform and exhibit not only at the John P. Schlegel, S.J. ATHLETICS REPORT University Magazine CU’s Excels, Page 9 both sides of the truth. Fr. Hamm touched on the dangers to world peace from such theories, but even more insidious is the danger to American Catholics Publisher: Creighton University; Rev. John P. Schlegel, Academic Excellence: due to the outrageous hate and bigotry held S.J., President; Lisa Calvert, Vice President for Footprints in by many of the proponents. The Church University Relations. Creighton University Magazine Government staff: Kim Barnes Manning, Assistant Vice President seems to dismiss this as “dogs nipping at for Marketing and Public Relations; Rick Davis, heels,” but I believe it is critical that educated Fly-Witness Testimony: International Law Happiness Under Attracting The Science of in the 20th Century the Microscope: Gates Scholars Forensic Entomology & Beyond The Science of Joy Editor; Sheila Swanson, Associate Editor; Pamela A. Summer 2005 Catholics become thoroughly educated in (1) Vaughn, Features Editor. Editorial Advisers: Cam their own faith and (2) the “doctrines” such Enarson, M.D., M.B.A.; Christine Wiseman, J.D.; Richard O’Brien, M.D.; Greg Johnson; Diane as the Rapture being spread by zealous Dougherty; Rev. Donald A. Doll, S.J.; Tamara fundamentalists. Creighton would not Buffalohead-McGill; and Jayne Schram. be amiss to set up a course of study just

Creighton University Magazine (USPS728-070) is on these subjects and carry out a program published quarterly in February, May, August and Letters of instruction through America. November by Creighton University, 2500 California B. Leon Doud, BS’56 Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178-0001. Periodicals postage to Jasper, Ark. paid at Omaha, Nebraska, and additional entry points. Address all mail to Marketing and Public the Editor Relations, Omaha, NE 68178. Postmaster: Send change A Look at Dorothy Day of address to Creighton University Magazine, P.O. Box Thanks for the spring 2005 letter to the 3266, Omaha, NE 68103-0078. More on the Rapture editor that referred to (modern saint) Dorothy For more enrollment information, contact the Living immersed in the southern states’ Day. Known to many as a “socialist” and Undergraduate Admissions Office at 1-800-282-5835, Bible Belt, surrounded by fundamentalists, “radical,” she was firmly planted in her [email protected]. Jehovah’s Witnesses and so on, the article by chosen Catholic faith. To make a gift to the University, contact the Fr. Hamm (“The Doomsday Scenario of the Yes, she was frustrated with the Church’s Development Office at 1-800-334-8794. Left Behind Books: How Biblical is It?”) in the shortage of response to the injustices of For the latest on alumni gatherings, contact the Alumni summer issue of Creighton Magazine was Depression-age America, but she embraced Relations Office at 1-800-CU-ALUMS (800-282-5867) or especially interesting. A book Fr. Hamm did Catholic teaching. Without prayer, she said, check online at www.creighton.edu/alumni. not include in his bibliography, and which is we miss the whole point. We know Christ by Send letters to the editor to Rick Davis at a must for anyone interested in these “partaking of that Food (Eucharist),” and we [email protected]; fax, (402) 280-2549; religious fallacies, is David B. Currie’s know “each other” when we sit down and eat Creighton University, Marketing and Public Relations, Rapture, the End-Times Error That Leaves the together, thus the Houses of Hospitality of 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178. Bible Behind from Sophia Institute Press, 2003. the Catholic Worker Movement. Her “hard Update your mailing address or send alumni news Nearly 500 pages deal with the correct bitter struggle with sin” became intertwined (births, weddings, promotions, etc.) electronically through Catholic biblical interpretation of the Book of with the love of “the Church of Christ made www.creighton.edu/alumni, call 1-800-334-8794 or Daniel, Revelation and the Olivet Discourse. visible” in faith and action. mail to Development Office, Creighton University, Before converting to Catholicism, Currie was Mike Sharkey, BSBA’72 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178. a dedicated fundamentalist, so he has seen Columbus, Ohio View the magazine online at www.creightonmagazine.org www.creighton.edu Correction

Copyright © 2005 by Creighton University Removing the ceiling-to-floor columns

Recycled and Recyclable in St. John’s Church is not one of the

Printed with Soy Ink possibilities currently being considered as part of the church’s renovation, as was Creighton University Magazine’s Purpose Creighton University Magazine, like the University itself, is reported in the Summer 2005 issue of committed to excellence and dedicated to the pursuit of Creighton Magazine. truth in all its forms. The magazine will be comprehensive in nature. It will support the University’s mission of education through thoughtful and compelling feature articles on a variety of topics. It will feature the brightest, the most stimulating, the most inspirational thinking that Creighton offers. The magazine also will promote Creighton, and its Jesuit Catholic identity, to a broad public and serve as a vital link between the University and its constituents. The magazine will be guided by the core values of Creighton: the inalienable worth of each individual, respect for all of God’s creation, a special concern for the poor, and the promotion of justice.

4 Fall 2005 University News Graham, Franco, Hult Receive Alumni Merit Awards College of Business headquartered in Omaha with worldwide College of Arts and Sciences Administration operations. The companies provide Karen M. Hult, The College of construction and industrial services. Ph.D., BA’78, received Business Administration School of Nursing the College of Arts honored alumnus Theresa J. Franco, and Sciences Alumni Donald D. Graham, BSN’78, received the Merit Award on May BSBA’58, with its School of Nursing’s 13. Hult is professor Alumni Merit Award Alumni Merit Award of political science at on May 13. While a on May 5. Franco is the Center for Public Hult student at Creighton, Graham the executive director Administration and Graham met and of Cancer Care Policy at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and worked for John P. Begley. They joined a Services for the State University. Throughout her career, she Franco colleague in forming the CPA firm of Begley, University of has been recognized for teaching excellence. Herbert & Graham, providing tax and Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). Under Hult’s authoritative books, co-authored with business consultancy to various enterprises her leadership, the small, seven-bed bone her husband, Charles Wolcott, and her in the Midwest. During this time, Graham marrow transplant program has grown to numerous other published works, also served as an adjunct faculty member at become the Lied Transplant Center, well- presentations and consultancies have Creighton. Although the CPA firm enjoyed known for its care of transplant patients. significantly influenced both scholarly great success, Graham found himself ready Franco has served nationally and research and teaching of public for a change in career focus. He chose to shift internationally as a consultant to other administration and organizational behavior. direction from providing tax services for hospitals establishing bone marrow In 1995, her book Governing the White House: others to more closely managing his own transplant programs. She is co-author of From Hoover through LBJ won the American business interests. Today, Graham is several published articles and has provided Political Science Association’s award for the chairman and CEO of a group of companies numerous professional presentations. best book on the presidency.

Summertime Fun Some of the more than 250 Omaha-area youth who participated in the National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) at Creighton this summer pose with Creighton President the Rev. John P. Schlegel, S.J., on the steps of St. John’s Church. Creighton has participated in the program — which provides physical and educational activities for economically disadvantaged youth — for more than 30 years. Photo by Mark Romesser

5 Fall 2005 University News

Spirit of Creighton Award Classmates Dedicate Recognizes Two Students Room to Fr. Wagener Creighton University graduates Kim Righter, BSN’05, of Converse, Texas, and Kieth McGovern, BSBA’05, of Leesburg, Va., received the prestigious Spirit of Creighton Award during commencement ceremonies on May 14. Photos by Mike Malone McGovern Righter

The Spirit of Creighton Award is given annually to the students who represent the best qualities of the Photo by Mark Romesser The newly renovated Fr. Clarence M. Wagener, S.J., Conference Room is located on the ground floor of University’s founders. the Hixson-Lied Science Building. McGovern was a participant in Creighton’s Semestre Dominicano Former students honor the late, beloved program in 2002 and a resident adviser professor, who taught physics and astronomy in Swanson, McGloin and Kiewit halls. at Creighton for more than 40 years. He returned to the ILAC Center during the summer of 2004 to live and volunteer while completing an accounting A conference room in the Hixson-Lied Fr. Wagener served on Creighton’s faculty internship at a local auditing firm. He Science Building has been renovated and for more than 40 years. He died in April also taught English as a Second named for the late Rev. Clarence Wagener, 2000. Language (ESL) and translated during S.J., a longtime Creighton physics and The Wagener Conference Room was parent-teacher conferences to members astronomy professor, thanks to the dedicated on June 11 during Reunion of Omaha’s Hispanic community. generosity of six of his former students from Weekend 2005. A former student of Fr. Righter was a member of numerous the class of 1964. Wagener’s who joined the Jesuits, the Rev. student organizations, and used her “I thought of him as extended family, Richard Ott, S.J., performed the blessing. outgoing and compassionate someone you could always count on to be In addition to Hutchison, other personality in the community by interested in your progress, personal as well contributors to the Wagener Conference volunteering on Spring Break Service as professional,” said Jeanne (Slaninger) Room were Robert Curran, Ph.D., of Ellicott Trips, tutoring at Kellom Academy in Hutchison, Ph.D., BS’64, one of those former City, Md.; Joseph Fennell, Ph.D., of Torrance, Omaha and by organizing World AIDS students. Hutchison, a former Spirit of Calif.; Morris Pongratz, Ph.D., of Los Alamos, Day activities in 2003 and 2004. Righter Creighton Award winner, is now a N.M.; Gerald Strohmeyer, M.D., of Wamego, also served as a resident adviser in mathematics professor at the University of Kan.; and Richard Brincks of Crystal Lake, Ill. Gallagher Hall. Alabama at Birmingham.

6 Fall 2005 University News

Gardiner Launches Creighton Faculty Members Irish Journal Receive Fulbright Awards David Gardiner, Ph.D., associate professor of English and director of Creighton’s Three Creighton University faculty Omaha companies on strategic planning and summer school in Ireland program, has members were selected to receive Fulbright international strategic alliance, and has launched a new international journal of Irish Program awards this spring. worked with government leaders and studies, An Sionnach: A Journal of Literature, Beth Furlong, Ph.D., was a recipient of a legislators to promote economic interests of Arts, and Culture. Fulbright Lecturing Award for the spring the city of Omaha, the state of Nebraska and Published by semester of 2006. the United States. Previously Tan was on the Creighton University During this time, faculty of California State University and Press for the first Furlong will teach in was named the Harry E. Brakebill time this spring, the the School of Distinguished Professor. twice-yearly, peer- Nursing at two Daniel R. Wilson, M.D., Ph.D., and reviewed journal universities in colleagues have been awarded an Egypt-USA focuses on Hungary: Research Exchange grant for 2005-06 to study developments in Semmelweis in “Psychotherapy & Gardiner Furlong Irish studies in the Budapest and the Pharmacotherapy of United States, Ireland and Europe from the University of Debrecen in Nyiregyhaza. She Post-Traumatic Stress late 1950s to the present. will lecture on community health nursing, Disorder: “This … journal is the first devoted trans-cultural nursing, pedagogy and Congruences & entirely to the critical enquiry of English. Differences in Egypt contemporary Irish Furlong is an associate professor of & America.” Wilson studies and the nursing at Creighton University, as well as a is professor and Wilson research and faculty associate in the Center for Health chairman of articulation of its Policy and Ethics. Her research interest is in psychiatry and professor of anthropology at rapidly shifting health policy, agenda-setting processes and Creighton, and has unique training in nature,” Gardiner access to health care for vulnerable anthropology, medicine and psychiatry at said. populations. Yale, Iowa, Harvard and Cambridge In addition to Creighton University management universities. serving as editor of professor Justin Tan, Ph.D., was awarded a The award will launch a program of joint An Sionnach, Gardiner was named director Fulbright Distinguished Professorship for a research with colleagues at Creighton and and editor of Creighton University Press in year, which began in Behman Hospital and the University of Cairo July. June. He is teaching to improve the understanding of the at Nankai University sociopolitical roots and pharmacological in Tianjin, China. treatment of the psychological effects of Tan has taught ethnic violence. As principal investigator, strategic Wilson will be a visiting professor at Behman management, Hospital this September in exchange with Dr. entrepreneurship, Mariam Wardakan of Cairo, who will later Tan and business have an extended visit in Omaha. Other consulting at undergraduate and graduate colleagues include Drs. Aly Salaheldin, levels. He has advised several leading Patricia Sullivan and Fred Petty of Omaha.

7 Fall 2005 University News

A Conversation with Creighton’s theoretical. As dean, I want to connect with business leaders in Omaha and with New Business Dean Creighton business graduates around the Anthony Hendrickson, Ph.D., joined Creighton in July as the new dean of the College of globe to help educate the next generation of Business Administration. Hendrickson comes to Creighton from Iowa State University, where business students. I want them to come to he served as associate dean of the College of Business, associate professor of management our classes and share their knowledge. I information systems and Accenture Faculty Fellow in MIS. believe this enhances the educational process. CU Magazine: What interested you in CU Magazine: Your expertise is in the Creighton position? information systems. How do we use Hendrickson: I was happy at Iowa State, technology to improve the learning but the more I learned about Creighton, the experience? more interested I became. I really enjoyed Hendrickson: I think we have a real visiting with the search committee; I felt opportunity to increase the use of comfortable here. I knew Creighton had a multimedia technology in the classroom. good academic reputation, and I liked the Through multimedia presentations, we can enthusiasm and vision of the administration. more actively engage students in their I liked the size and complexity of the learning experience. Students today are very University. It seems like a place where connected, and it can sometimes be a students can really get to know their challenge to keep pace. But, in many ways, professors, and that’s important. I liked the Creighton is a leader. For example, we have Jesuit ideals. In fact, after the interview the Joe Ricketts Center in Electronic Photo by Jacqueline Lorince process, Fr. Andy Alexander (Creighton’s Hendrickson … “this is a place that cares deeply Commerce and Database Management, the about people.” vice president for University Ministry) said University has been recognized as one of the to me: “You pray for us in our decision, and top wireless campuses, and faculty are we’ll pray for you.” That really spoke to me. especially for 18-year-old students, to learning to more fully integrate technology This is a place that cares deeply about continue to develop their value system and a into their teaching through the Academic people. sense of what’s right and wrong. So much of Development and Technology Center. CU Magazine: How do you feel a Jesuit that, I believe, comes from faith. A Jesuit CU Magazine: Any interesting hobbies business education differs from a business education supports the idea that people or associations outside of education? education at a non-Jesuit college or should actively engage their belief system. Hendrickson: I’m a member of the university? What is it they believe and why? Amonsoquath Tribe of Cherokee. My Hendrickson: Business people have to CU Magazine: What are your goals for ancestors on my father’s side were Cherokee. make value judgments. I was working with a the college? I can remember sitting at the feet of my U.S. firm that does business internationally, Hendrickson: There is a perceived lack of great-grandmother in her dirt-floor house in and they had to decide whether they would relevance between business education and the hills of Arkansas, listening to her tell engage in bribery in this foreign country — business practice, as reported in a 2002 stories as she chewed tobacco. It was a an unspoken but accepted custom. It would special report by the Association to Advance different lifestyle, but I’m proud of my have been very easy to say that everybody Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), heritage. I also used to race sprint cars. I’ve does it. But they came to the conclusion that “Management Education at Risk.” The won a few races. In fact, one summer I made they wouldn’t do that, even though it cost perception is that somehow business schools more money racing sprint cars than I did the them business. Every day we are faced with lost their way; that we lost the connection rest of the year working as a graduate ethical decisions. And it’s very important, with the business profession. That we’re too student.

8 Fall 2005 University News Phonathon CU at Joslyn Creighton University and the Joslyn Art Has Another Great Year Museum announce a new lecture series to be presented by Creighton faculty in Creighton University’s Phonathon posted excellent faculty members and providing Joslyn’s lecture hall on selected Saturdays another outstanding year, raising more than state-of-the-art laboratory and classroom from September through May. The series $1.2 million for Fiscal Year 2004-2005, which equipment, the students come to appreciate includes a mélange of fascinating topics closed on June 30. Part of the University’s the Annual Fund and what it means for the — each linked in some way to Joslyn’s building, collections or exhibitions.Take Office of Development, the Phonathon raises University,” Conklin said. “Hopefully, the advantage of this opportunity to gain money to support the Annual Fund. As the alumni also enjoy the personal contact with fresh perspectives from Creighton single largest source of unrestricted gifts to students who help keep them up-to-date on scholars. Admission to CU at Joslyn is the University and its schools and colleges, the new and exciting developments that are free; no reservations are required. For the Annual Fund stands as the foundation of happening every day on campus.” more information about the topics listed below, please call (402) 342-3300. the University’s fund-raising programs. Mike Noonan, a senior who will graduate “The greatest asset to fund raising through in December 2005, has worked for the Sept. 17 at 10:30 a.m. Listening to Nebraska Architecture by Thomas A. the Phonathon is the personal contact Phonathon the past four years. He served as Kuhlman, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English between the student callers and alumni and a supervisor for two of those years, raising Oct. 22 at 10:30 a.m. parents,” said Alysia Conklin, assistant almost $200,000 for Creighton through Pleasure to the People! How Oakview Mall is like the Roman Baths by Gregory S. Bucher, Ph.D., Associate director of annual giving. alumni and parent pledges. Professor of Classical and Near Eastern Studies According to Conklin, students working “Working for the Phonathon gives student Nov. 19 at 10:30 a.m. for the Phonathon learn more about the callers a great deal of appreciation for America’s Visual Frontier: New Interpretations of the University through stories and advice from Creighton’s alumni as well as the University. Western Landscape by Heather Fryer, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of History alumni and they develop a greater appreciation We see the dollars raised put to work around for the University when they are educated campus,” Noonan said. “Talking with the Jan. 14 at 10:30 a.m. The ‘Handwriting on the Wall’: The Bible in Art by about the factors involved in their Creighton alumni is also great because you can ask Leonard J. Greenspoon, Ph.D., Klutznick Professor of experience — namely, the costs involved in them questions regarding your future career Jewish Civilization and Professor of Classical and Near Eastern Studies making their Creighton education so successful. aspirations. Callers talk to alumni with the “By learning what goes into securing same major and it’s great to get their advice.” Feb. 18 at 1 p.m. La Musique de la Belle France: Vocal Music of Sebastien Le Camus, Michel Pignolet Monteclair, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Erik Satie by the Rev. Gift Honors Late Husband attended both Central and Tech high Charles Jurgensmeier, S.J., Assistant Professor of With a $25,000 gift to the University, 91- schools. When he Fine and Performing Arts, and Marilyn Kielniarz, Ph.D., Professor of Fine and Performing Arts year-old Catherine Basilico of Omaha has returned from established an endowed scholarship fund in serving in World March 18 at 10:30 a.m. A Gesture of Love? The Language of Gestures in honor of her late husband, Creighton War II, his wife Ancient Greek Vase Paintings by Christina A. Clark, alumnus Sebastian A. Basilico, BS’54. encouraged him to Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Classical and Near Eastern Studies “Mrs. Basilico appreciated the difference attend Creighton April 22 at 10:30 a.m. Creighton made in their lives. It is that on the GI Bill. Beyond the Hollywood Western: Cowboys and Indians difference that prompted her to honor her While at Sebastian and Catherine in American Art by Heather Fryer, Ph.D., Assistant husband in this manner,” said Jack Creighton, he was Basilico Professor of History Neneman, a Creighton regional director of actively involved in student activities, May 6 at 10:30 a.m. Life at Versailles by Jan Lund, Adjunct Assistant including student government. Sebastian development. Professor of Modern Languages and Literatures Sebastian Basilico, an Omaha native, Basilico died April 2, 1995.

9 Fall 2005 University News

Slice Studentof Life

CU at CR8ON

By Brian A. Young convenient than a phone, instant messaging Vice President for Information Technology has become a way of life for today’s college

BTDT, BBIAM, TTYL, LOL … Huh? student. Students today come to Creighton, and Students today have become experts at other college campuses around the country, multitasking and are often comfortable with their own language of sorts — one born IM-ing five or six people at one time, surfing from the instant-messaging craze. the web, listening to music and doing According to a Pew Internet & American homework all at the same time. In fact, 32 Life survey, 74 percent of online teens — percent of IM users report doing something some 13 million teenagers — use instant else on their computer while they are instant messaging, IM-ing for short. messaging, according to a Pew report. Instant messaging For quick communication, users of IM-ing allows two or more and text messaging have developed a form of people to communicate shorthand that can seem Greek to the non-user. in real time over the For those of you still scratching your head Internet. Users can over the first line of this column, here’s a create a contact list of translation: BTDT stands for “been there friends with whom done that,” BBIAM is short for “be back in a they want to “chat.” minute,” TTYL means “talk to you later” and Young The most popular LOL is “laughing out loud.” instant messaging services are AOL Instant ... 74 percent of So, how does this technology shift affect Messenger (with nearly 6 million people using online teens — Creighton — which was honored by Intel this application on any given day), AOL Corp. as one of the country’s best campuses Instant Message, Yahoo’s Messenger and some 13 million for wireless computing access for students? I MSN Messenger. believe it creates opportunity — to integrate In addition to instant messaging, there has teenagers — the latest technology and communication been an explosion in the use of text messaging, tools into the classroom in an effort to enhance especially among college-age students. Text use instant teaching and student learning. And that’s a messaging involves the wireless transmission message I like to share … A3 (anytime, of a short text message and its receipt by messaging ... anywhere, anyplace). another wireless device, such as a cell phone. According to the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association, nearly 5 billion text according to another Pew survey. messages are sent in the United States every This fast-paced communication appeals to month. Among cell-phone users ages 18 to the younger generations who have grown up 27, 63 percent regularly text-message expecting instantaneous gratification. Faster (compared to 27 percent of all adults), than the U.S. mail, quicker than e-mail, more

10 Fall 2005 University News Vacanti Brothers, Edwards, Fr. Byron and the Mexican Consulate Among Those Honored at May Commencement

remained active in the community, including service on the boards of the League of Women Voters, the YWCA, the Women’s Fund, Marian High School and Duchesne Academy. Since 1994, she has been board chair of the Omaha Archdiocese Black Student Catholic Scholarship Fund. Alumni Achievement Citation Creighton presented its highest alumni award, the Alumni Achievement Citation, to the Vacanti brothers — Drs. Joseph (Jay), BS’70;

Photo by Mike Malone Charles (Chuck), BS’72; Francis (Frank), BS’74; The Vacanti brothers with Fr. Schlegel and Cam Enarson, M.D., Creighton’s vice president for Health Sciences. From left, Drs. Martin, Francis and Joseph Vacanti, Fr. Schlegel, Dr. Enarson and Dr. Charles and Martin (Marty), BS’74, MD’82. Also known Vacanti. as the “first family” of tissue engineering, these Creighton University celebrated University of Scranton brothers have accumulated praise and renown commencement on May 14 when more than and The Catholic for their hard work and extraordinary 1,200 students received degrees. Since University of America, research. Creighton’s founding, the University has and as a distinguished Joseph, the eldest, is the John Homans presented more than 67,000 degrees. professor at Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical The University also recognized the Georgetown School at Massachusetts General Hospital. following individuals and organizations for University. Fr. Byron The other brothers are Charles, chairman of their contributions to education, community, founded Bread for the the Department of Anesthesiology, Byron business and health. World, a Christian Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Brigham Presidential Medallion movement seeking to end world hunger. and Women’s Hospital in Boston; Martin, Today, he is a research professor at Sellinger associate professor and director of hospital Creighton’s Presidential Medallion was School of Business, Loyola College in laboratories at UMass/Memorial Owned presented to the Mexican Consulate. Maryland, and authors a syndicated bi-weekly Affiliate Hospitals; and Francis, the The Consulate was established Sept. 1, 2000, column for Catholic News Service. administrator of Massachusetts General and offers services to the Mexican community Edwards was a Hospital (MGH) operating rooms and an in its jurisdiction of Nebraska, Iowa, North teacher at a number of associate anesthetist at MGH. Dakota and South Dakota. institutions for 43 Joseph encouraged his brothers to journey Honorary Degrees years; 23 of those down the road of discovery where organs Creighton presented Honorary Doctor of years were at could be developed from a patient’s own Humane Letters to the Rev. William J. Byron, Creighton Prep High tissue. The brothers credit their Jesuit training S.J., and to Tessie O. Edwards, BS’49. School in Omaha. She as motivation to think expansively in Fr. Byron has been a leader in the Jesuit retired from teaching searching for the truth. community, serving as president of the Edwards in 1991, but has

11 Fall 2005 University News Exploring Planet Earth Biology Students Conduct Scientific Research Through NASA Grant

Over the past 13 years, Schalles has taken 17 biology students on these NASA-sponsored trips and with a single exception — a musician — all are now engaged in some branch of science or health. Lani Pascual, BS’96, is among them. Pascual will defend her doctoral dissertation in aquatic toxicology this year. She is currently a research scientist at the Center for Earth and Environmental Science at Indiana University- Purdue University at Indianapolis. She accompanied Schalles to Durant, Okla., in the summer of 1995 where they spent two weeks studying 12-foot deep pools in a quest

Photos courtesy of John Schalles, Ph.D. to understand how different sediments affect Former NASA summer fellowship participant Kim (Whitman) Hyde, BS’98, MS’00, conducts research at Creighton in 1999. Today, Hyde is pursuing a doctoral degree in biological oceanography at the the optical qualities of water. University of Rhode Island. It was a transforming experience for Pascual. Sometimes, things just work out the way things like hefty master’s degree theses full “I would say that working with Dr. Schalles they should. of impressive algorithms and arcane that summer was the pivotal experience that NASA needs a whole new generation of language familiar only to the initiated. got me into science,” she said. “Before that, I scientists. People like John Schalles want to But, as Schalles points out, this sort of thing was looking at med school.” create a whole new generation of scientists. is of great interest to NASA, whose interest Pascual said it was the global significance NASA has money to help that happen. John in scientific knowledge is far broader than of the environmental sciences that caused her Schalles does not. the space program. to realize that a life could be usefully Call it good ol’ American deal-making if Monitoring the state of its own planet, devoted to issues of water quality. you want, but for the past 13 years, John often with satellite photography, is as much a “I kept getting to that part of the med Schalles, Ph.D., professor and chair of part of NASA’s mission as any robot school application where they ask why you Creighton’s biology department, has been dropped on the surface of Mars. want to be a doctor, and not being able to awarded NASA scholarships to take one or Creighton University is part of a consortium answer,” she said. “But seeing all these vistas two of his undergraduate students on of 13 Nebraska schools that is given NASA in environmental science, that it offered a summer research trips. scholarships to enable students to experience positive way to affect the world, having that The locations are not terribly exotic. They life in the field during the summer. It’s called experience was what got me into grad school.” traveled to Chesapeake, Va., this year. Last the Nebraska Space Grant Consortium and Chris Hiemstra, Ph.D., BSEVS’96, had his year, they scouted coastal and inland areas in 2004 it was granted a five-year contract eye on a career in research even before of Georgia. The work sounds to the lay ear extension after earning NASA’s highest accompanying Schalles during the summer quite astonishing: They assess water quality ranking for excellent performance. The value of ’95. But, he said, the experience by studying the spectral resolution of light of that five-year extension is expected to researching water quality, plant and algae life bouncing off the water. These trips result in approach $4.5 million. around Carter Lake, Iowa, Lake Okoboji in

12 Fall 2005 University News

to see if a particular student is suited for an northern Iowa, and the waterways near academic life made up of classrooms and Durant, Okla., helped him understand better coastal waterways. what he would be getting into. “That’s what’s in it for me,” he said. “I “It was really a very good introduction have had the opportunity to work with the into how to perform research work and the best students, with gifted, very bright amount of work involved,” he said. students.” “I was on the research track already, but I And many of Schalles’ 17 erstwhile don’t think I had thought deeply about it. I backpackers have indeed gone on to inhabit wasn’t sure how far I would go. That summer the world of scientific research. helped me become a lot more serious about Christine Hladik, BS’02, MS’04, for what I wanted to do and what sort of things example, currently works as a geospatial I could do. I got a ground-level introduction scientist on a project sponsored by the there.” National Oceanic and Atmospheric And, Hiemstra found out some years later, Administration (NOAA), based at Florida he also began a long-term relationship with A&M; and Patrick A’Hearn, BSEVS’92, is NASA, which gave him a graduate school currently chief scientist for NOAA at the grant and is even funding a project he is Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in currently pursuing at Colorado State University, Christine Hladik, BS’02, MS’04, uses optical instruments and a laptop computer to study Seattle. where he works as a research scientist. coastal phytoplankton off the Georgia coast Others have become physicians. Another Kim (Whitman) Hyde, BS’98, MS’00, also during her 2003 NASA summer fellowship. is a lawyer specializing in environmental got her first taste of field research in Sapelo Creighton University is law. Others have found a home with the Island, Ga., through one of Schalles’ NASA- Environmental Protection Agency. sponsored summer fellowships. She is part of a consortium of Schalles said he is preparing his students another of Schalles’ former students 13 Nebraska schools for a real world. planning to defend a doctoral dissertation that is given NASA He recalls that his interest in aquatics was this year, this time in biological oceanography sparked by the famed documentaries of at the University of Rhode Island. scholarships to enable French biologist and oceanographer Jacques “It was a very valuable experience,” she students to experience Cousteau, whose deep-sea explorations recalled, “really the beginning of my research life in the field during made him famous in the United States. experience.” But deep-sea work, while glamorous, is a It was not just the chance to experience life the summer. rare opportunity, Schalles said. Most job outside the classroom that made the trip opportunities in the field focus on the U.S. valuable, Hyde said, but also the chance to coastline and its inland waters where water meet other people studying the same things. from various universities and government quality issues are major concerns. These trips are almost always part of a larger agencies were conducting projects there. “The deep ocean is the frontier of research effort, she said, and involve students The NASA scholarships, Schalles said, are science,” Schalles said, “but the jobs are near and Ph.D.s from several universities. not large. They average about $2,500 for an the coastlines — pollution and protection Such was the case this summer when approximately 8-10 week study period, but issues for example. Schalles took three biology majors — Megan they are sufficient for the students’ needs “They are critical to our destiny.” Machmuller of Norfolk, Neb., and Andrew and can even help fund their pursuit of a Binderup and Edward Cizek of Omaha — to master’s degree. the Chesapeake. He said about 30 researchers For Schalles, the fellowships are his chance

13 Fall 2005 University News Creighton Scientists in the Forefront in Fight Against Age-Related Hearing Loss

boomers march into retirement, the need for a potential cure for age-related hearing loss could not be greater. Fritzsch explained that age-related hearing impairment falls into two categories: middle ear mediated hearing reduction (conductive hearing) and sensorineural hearing loss. According to the American Speech- Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), conductive hearing loss occurs when sound is not conducted efficiently through the outer ear canal to the eardrum and the tiny bones, or ossicles, of the middle ear. Conductive hearing loss usually involves a reduction in Photo by Mike Kleveter Bernd Fritzsch uses a sophisticated confocal microscope to study the inner workings of the ear. sound level, or the ability to hear faint sounds. This type of hearing loss can often be medically or surgically corrected. Bernd Fritzsch, Ph.D., professor of Disabling hearing impairments currently Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there biomedical sciences and leader of the affect about 250 million people worldwide, is damage to the inner ear (cochlea) or to the Bellucci Research Group at Creighton including one out of every 10 Americans. In nerve pathways from the inner ear University, admits that his own concerns addition, one out of three Americans above (retrocochlear) to the brain. Sensorineural over aging may provide an added incentive the age of 65 has experienced severe hearing hearing loss cannot be medically or for continuing his research on hearing loss. loss, which can often lead to isolation from surgically corrected. It is a permanent loss. Fritzsch is not alone in his concerns. family and friends. As millions of baby Research at Creighton University is

About the Bellucci Research Group The Bellucci Research Group is funded by support from Richard J. Bellucci, MD’42. Bellucci is a national leader in the utilization of ear surgery techniques to treat conductive hearing loss. His generosity to Creighton University has been the source of a library of essential research tools, support for key equipment, stipends for promising Ph.D. candidates and the Bellucci Award given to young investigators who are making major contributions in auditory research.

Members of the Bellucci Research Group are, from left, Richard Hallworth, Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical sciences; Garret Soukup, Ph.D., assistant professor of biomedical sciences; Bernd Fritzsch, Ph.D., professor of biomedical sciences; Kirk Beisel, Ph.D, professor of biomedical sciences; and (not pictured) David He, Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical sciences. Photo by Mike Kleveter

14 Fall 2005 University News

one molecule at a time, the Bellucci team Hearing Research — began by dissecting the development of the Why It’s Important Now entire system to discover its building blocks Creighton • Disabling hearing impairments affect (proteins) and the function each performs. about 250 million people worldwide. “Research has shown us that with the College of Arts • Deafness is the second most common removal of the Retinoblastoma (Rb) tumor and Sciences disability in developed countries. suppressor gene, adult hair cells can be made 2005-2006 FACULTY • One out of 10 Americans suffers from to undergo division and grow,” Fritzsch said. LECTURE SERIES hearing loss. “The problem is that this process can lead to Some of Creighton’s most dynamic • One out of three Americans above the uncontrolled growth (as in a tumor). So, our and talented faculty talk about their age of 65 has severe hearing loss. next step is to discern how to control the research in terms that will be accessible to a general audience. • Hearing related disorders are the division and growth of hair cells in order to second most costly ailment, and the restore hearing.” Please save these dates: incidence of hearing impairments will In moving forward with their research, the
 continue to rise as baby boomers age. Bellucci team walks a fine line between Thursday, Oct. 6 • Congenital deafness affects one out of growing the hair cells needed to restore at 6 p.m. every 1,000 infants. This research may hearing loss and controlling their growth so A Language That Is Ever Green: help to restore hearing during that that a tumor does not form. A second issue Environmentalism and Poetry critical period when language skills that the Bellucci team must address is the BRIDGET KEEGAN, Ph.D. English Department develop. delayed loss of sensory neurons caused by A light dinner will be served. the loss of hair cells.
 progressing in both directions. Richard Fritzsch explains, “Without sensory Tuesday, Dec. 6 Hallworth, Ph.D., a member of the Bellucci neurons, cochlear implants will not work at 7:30 a.m. team, assisted in the development of the first, and newly generated hair cells cannot get Social Science: From the multi-electrode cochlear implant. These their information to the brain. Through our Social to the Science implants can provide a sense of sound to a research, we will develop a way to maintain TERRY CLARK, Ph.D. Political Science and International Relations person who is profoundly deaf or severely the nerve fibers in order to connect them to Breakfast will be served. hard of hearing by converting sound energy regenerated hair cells — thereby restoring
 into electrical signals that are sent to the hearing.” Wednesday, Feb. 15 brain. While he admits that much work remains at Noon Researchers aim to cure neurosensory before these findings can be translated into 1012 Degrees: Melting Atoms hearing loss through the study of the the actual restoration of hearing in human to Make a Quark Gluon Plasma development and regeneration of hair cells, patients, Fritzsch believes that with JANET SEGER, Ph.D. the cells in the inner ear that perceive sound. continued support of this research, age- Physics Department A light lunch will be served. The Bellucci team is, for example, related hearing loss may soon become a
 concentrating on regenerating new hair cells thing of the past. through the division of existing hair cells. Cost: • $8 per lecture According to Fritzsch, the advantages of this • $20 for the complete series approach are that it is the least invasive and To receive a personal invitation in has the potential to provide the best result, advance of the first lecture, contact Chris Karasek at (402) 280-4015 because patients will retain their supporting or [email protected]. cells in addition to generating new hair cells. With the goal of reversing hearing loss,

15 Fall 2005 University News

Reese Daeges Bird Lapito Roth Wordekemper

Sports Shorts and another national poll, by the National Yankees following the 2005 season. The Storm Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Lake, Iowa, native was 6-0 with a 3.12 ERA Baseball Earns National Ranking (NCBWA), put the Jays at No. 31. in a season cut short by a strained elbow Relief pitcher Scott Reese, who finished 12-0 ligament. The 2005 Creighton baseball team, winners with five saves and a 2.85 ERA, was named a Joining Wordekemper in the Yankee of the first regular-season conference title in third-team All-American by the NCBWA. organization will be second baseman Tony school history, finished the season with a Designated hitter Zach Daeges, who holds Roth, a Lincoln Regional All-Tournament berth in the NCAA Tournament and a a 3.32 GPA in accounting, was named an Team and two-time All-MVC selection. Roth, national ranking in two season-ending polls. Academic All-American by ESPN The who hit .323 in 201 games with Creighton, Guided by two- Magazine. Daeges also joined three of his signed a free agent contract with the Yankees. time Missouri Valley teammates — Brandon Bird, Gabe Lapito Conference (MVC) Softball Three-Peat and Tony Roth — on the MVC Scholar- Coach of the Year Ed The Creighton softball team claimed its Athlete First-Team. For Roth, this was his Servais, Creighton third straight Missouri Valley Conference second year on the list; for Lapito, it was his compiled a record of Tournament championship in 2005 and again third. Creighton’s four first-team selections 48-17 and reached advanced to the NCAA tournament, where were the most of any Valley team. the championship of the Jays came up short in two extra-inning Servais the NCAA Regional Yankee Dandies heartbreakers. in Lincoln, Neb. A year-end poll by Collegiate Creighton pitcher Eric Wordekemper was The 44-13 Jays were led by Easton Softball Baseball ranked Creighton 28th in the country, drafted in the 46th round by the New York All-Americans Melanie Dorsey and Tammy

Soccer Kicks Off Fall Schedule The Creighton men’s and women’s 2005 soccer schedules have been released. The Creighton men open the season at the Nike Portland Invitational in Portland, Ore., in early September. The Bluejays will be shooting for their 14th straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The Creighton women will be looking for their third NCAA Tournament appearance in four years when they open play Aug. 26 at home against Wisconsin. For the first time, Creighton will host the semifinals and championship of the State Farm MVC Women’s Soccer Championship in early November. For schedule and ticket information, visit www.gocreighton.com. brian biggerstaff kristine willrett

16 Fall 2005 University News

Dorsey Nielsen Johnson Fukumoto

Nielsen. Dorsey, a two-time All-MVC collected 175 wins — almost 30 more than outfielder, led the league with a .402 batting second-place Wichita State. Creighton also average in 2005. Nielsen, a three-time All- led the conference in overall winning MVC pitcher, was 28-8 with a 1.54 ERA in percentage (.698), most league victories (79) 2005. The all-time winningest pitcher in and league winning percentage (.665). Creighton history (with 76 career victories), In addition, Creighton was the only school Johnson was named the MVC Player of the Year. Nielsen holds the school and conference to post a winning record in each of the seven record for career strikeouts with 914. She also sports, and the only one to qualify for Smart and Smarter was named the MVC Tournament MVP for postseason play in five or more of the sports. Creighton’s student athletes recorded their the third straight year in 2005. In fact, Creighton joined Notre Dame and highest cumulative GPA in 2004-05, with a Creighton’s Abby Johnson earned MVC North Carolina as the only schools in the 3.25 average. Nine student athletes finished Player of the Year honors and joined Dorsey country with postseason bids in men’s and with perfect 4.0s, and 36 percent achieved a and Nielsen on the All-MVC First-Team. The women’s basketball, men’s and women’s 3.5 or higher. first baseman/pitcher and Creighton’s all- soccer, baseball and softball in 2004-05. time RBI leader (144), Johnson also received Midwest region honors along with Nielsen. Dinner/Auction In addition, catcher Christine Fukumoto, Fund-raiser for Athletics who graduated in May with a 3.65 GPA in Saturday, Nov. 5, 2005 mathematics, was named an Academic All- Creighton University Gymnasium American by ESPN The Magazine and was Cocktails/silent auction at 5 p.m. Dinner at 7 p.m. named to the NCAA Regional All- Chairman: Jim Manion, MD’66 Tournament Team along with Nielsen. 2004-05 Highlights: Tops in the Valley 13 straight NCAA Tournament appearances in Creighton totaled more wins than any of men’s soccer. 2004 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament the other nine schools in the Missouri Valley Building champions in women’s soccer. Conference last season in a combined 2005 MVC Tournament champions in women’s softball — the team’s third straight. comparison of seven major sports: men’s and Upon 2005 regular-season conference champions in women’s basketball, men’s and women’s men’s baseball. MVC Coach of Year in Ed Servais. soccer, baseball, softball and volleyball. Success 2005 MVC Tournament champions in men’s basketball; six NCAA Tournament appearances in Among the seven sports, Creighton 19TH ANNUAL the last seven years. BLUEJAY 2005 WNIT appearance by women’s basketball, JAMBOREE marking four straight postseason appearances.

To donate an auction item or make dinner reservations, please call Carol Ketcham at (402) 280-1794.

X Fall 2005 Fantastic Freshmen

Fantastic By Anthony Flott

FreshmenMore than 550 of Creighton’s 975 incoming freshmen participated in the University’s Don’t get Tyler Monahan started on whopping 2,879 first-year students, Summer Preview sessions. Above from left, Kyle Korver. nipping the previous three-year best of Braxton Black of Bloomington, Minn., attends A self-described “college basketball 2,874 freshmen from 1979-1981. a marketing class; Ashly Moore of Windsor junkie,” Monahan, through the NCAA And don’t think the admissions office Heights, Iowa, Kira Haberkorn of Louisville, Tournament, developed an appreciation Colo., and Priya Sharma of St. Joseph, Mo., is padding its numbers with bodies listen to advice from a recent graduate; for the former Creighton star that really only; the class has plenty of brains to go students walk between classes; and the Rev. blossomed when Korver was signed by around, too. Don Bishop, Creighton’s Dennis Hamm, S.J., chats with Colin Wilson Monahan’s beloved Philadelphia 76ers. associate vice president for enrollment of Decatur, Ga. “I have to say that I became addicted to management, points to U.S. News & Kyle Korver and his sweet shot,” said World Report data on high school GPAs, Monahan, a Scranton, Pa., native who class rank and ACT scores that place grew up just two hours from Philly. “My Creighton’s freshmen among the five friends get sick of me talking about him.” best incoming classes at private Midwest Ask about the mechanics and universities with undergraduate aesthetic beauty of Korver’s 3-point shot enrollments of 3,000 or more. Among and you might get stuck for hours. the 220 Catholic institutions of higher Not that long ago, however, if you learning in the entire country, Notre asked Monahan what he knew about Dame, Georgetown, Boston College and the former Bluejay’s alma mater, you’d Holy Cross lead the way in the Creighton welcomes probably get a blank stare longer than academic profile of freshmen, but, “You Korver’s patented knee-high socks. “My can argue five through 10,” said Bishop, level of familiarity with Creighton,” he adding, “We’re in that argument.” one of its biggest and said, “was very little.” Just what’s happening up on the Soon, though, Monahan will be hilltop? Five aspects have contributed to brightest freshman following in Korver’s size-14 hightops the bigger and brighter classes at when he takes his first class as a Creighton: increased personalization of classes to campus this freshman at Creighton this August. recruiting; campus growth; continued And he’ll have plenty of company. academic vitality; a broadly diverse fall. Who are these Creighton’s incoming freshmen student body with a wide range of number 975 students strong, bigger backgrounds that remains strongly than any previous class save for the Catholic; and, more hands to help. Like new students, and 989 freshmen of 1979. And the 2005 the five fingers, they can’t do much harvest is just the latest in a string of alone. Together, though, they’ve packed how did Creighton freshman bumper crops. Combined with quite a punch. the 968 freshmen who came in 2004 and Bishop himself is a relative newcomer attract them? the 936 in 2003, Creighton has enrolled a to campus, leaving Cornell University

18 Fall 2005 Fantastic Freshmen Photos by Dave Weaver three years ago to seek a post at “a high- “This process began with a talented more analytical in our recruitment quality Catholic university that wanted and experienced staff in admissions and planning and more personal at the same to grow; that was really good but financial aid,” Bishop said. Then, in 2003, time. Mary and the admissions team wanted to get better; a school that Bishop hired Mary Chase as director of deserve high praise for accomplishing arguably was regionally dominant with admissions, a position that includes this balance.” the goal to become more nationally working with merit awards. Chase, a prominent.” He found it at Creighton, top-level admissions consultant with continuing an enrollment management Noel-Levitz before coming to Creighton, 900 and Beyond career that began nearly 30 years ago at has “thrived” in the leadership role, Creighton has enrolled freshman Notre Dame (also his alma mater). Bishop said. Chase teams with Bishop classes of 900 or more students seven He arrived about the same time as the — as well as financial aid director Bob times in its 127-year history. The last freshman class of 2002, with its 802 Walker and the rest of the admissions three freshman classes, including this students. That followed 2001’s even staff — in developing admissions year’s class, have exceeded the 900 smaller class of 763 students, a two-year strategies. mark and set a three-year record. low not seen in almost 20 years. The dip “The staff is a close-knit team that is The 2005 freshmen also boast wasn’t exactly due to a fall in supply — fanatical about getting personally involved Creighton’s highest academic profile Nebraska’s pool of graduating high with the lives, hopes and dreams of — as measured by ACT median and school students was and is relatively their applicants,” Bishop said. “We are the percent of freshmen who were at stable, while the national crop is the top of their class in high school. expanding. If the enrollment and applicant pools were to grow, Bishop said, Creighton had to improve the way it recruited the local Omaha area and in- state students while doing the same for carefully selected markets in other states. “We need to do both at the same time,” he said. “And that’s what Creighton is starting to accomplish.” Getting Personal The first step taken to which Bishop credits the enrollment uptick was a more focused enrollment approach in the admissions and financial aid offices — one that stressed increased personalization. *Projected freshman class

19 Fall 2005 Fantastic Freshmen

Over the past three years, the admissions staff has done more targeted traveling for in-person visits with students and high school counselors. They’ve reinstituted, “to great success,” admissions receptions in key areas across the country — bringing together prospective students and their parents with admissions staff, area alumni and parents of current students. Even current Creighton students are making contacts — often with prospective students from their own hometowns. Direct mail messages were beefed up, phone calls were made, e-mails were sent and the

University’s admissions website was Photo by Mark Romesser overhauled. If questions were asked, the Creighton’s associate vice president for enrollment management, Don Bishop, right, and director of admissions team made sure they got admissions, Mary Chase, have focused Creighton’s undergraduate recruiting efforts on personalization. answered in a personal manner. “It really enforced the reality of with Creighton when admissions any previous class. The group boasts a Creighton, that this is a very personal regional manager Nick Constantino, median ACT of 26 and a median SAT of place that will care about you and will BSBA’00, visited; Schaefer was at Saint 1210. More than a quarter of the class respond to you as an individual,” Chase Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights, had ACT scores of 29 or higher. (A said. “That’s the strength of Creighton, Minn., when admissions regional perfect score is 36.) And while the and we are now conveying that manager Amanda Kranz came to town. highest SAT in 2004-05 was 1490, nine message effectively by our efforts to Neither had heard of Creighton before students from the incoming class had personalize the process.” the visits. Stable, though, eventually SATs topping 1500, two of them with Such personalization was one of the turned down Marquette in favor of near-perfect 1570s out of a possible 1600. things that swayed Tricia Watson, one of coming to Omaha, while Schaefer chose Also impressive: 40 percent of the 131 freshmen who boasts at least one Creighton over the University of incoming freshmen ranked in the top 10 parent as a Creighton alum. Tricia’s Wisconsin-Madison, Minnesota and percent of their high school graduating father, Dennis, and her mother, Mary Marquette. classes, while 12 percent were their (O’Neill), both graduated from Creighton even reconsidered how it school’s valedictorians or salutatorians. Creighton in 1981. Tricia Watson was recruits in Omaha. In March, for instance, The group did more than just hit the attending Ursuline Academy in Dallas the University held a reception for books, too. At least half of the freshmen when Joe Bezousek, a regional manager prospects off campus. About 200 people held leadership positions such as with Creighton’s Admission Office and attended. student body or class president, national a 2001 graduate of the College of Personalization also became important honor society president, school Business Administration, came calling in the determination of scholarships. publication editor, team captain or MVP, during “college night.” “He was a major Merit awards, for instance, were being or attended a state or national-level influence in my decision,” Watson said. issued in a manner that seemed leadership conference. “When he talked, I didn’t feel like I was impersonally “numbers in, numbers out.” listening to a persuasive advertisement “Students and parents felt that merit Growing Gains intended for everyone. Joe cared about awards were an entitlement transaction,” The student body isn’t the only thing my individual needs as a student. He Bishop said. “We seemed to be booming at Creighton, of course. So, was obviously excited about my interest operating more like a state school than a too, is campus construction, a clear sign in the school and excited about the selective private school.” Essays, once to recruits that CU has an eye on the school in general. All my friends will tell absent, were reinstated. “We started future. The works include the Hixson- you, I loved talking about Creighton getting to know the applicants better, Lied Science Building, the Michael G. with him.” Watson ultimately chose and once we knew the applicants better, Morrison, S.J. Stadium (home to Creighton over admission offers from we were more responsive to them, Creighton’s nationally recognized soccer Notre Dame, Southern Methodist talking to them about what they were programs), Davis Square student University and Saint Louis University. interested in.” Now, applicants compete housing project and the redesigned Incoming freshmen Kenneth Stable for service and leadership merits in campus mall with wireless Internet and Joe Schaefer tell similar stories. A addition to academic grants. access, all ready for the incoming class. graduate of Regis Jesuit High School in The result? The academic prowess of And more is on the way. Phase II of Aurora, Colo., Stable first had contact Creighton’s 2005-06 freshmen might top junior/senior town homes, two parking

20 Fall 2005 Fantastic Freshmen garages and more mall renovations are Bishop said Creighton focused not just “OBSESSED” with biology. Though also among the major projects under way. on the classroom, but on the boardroom, majoring in secondary education with Construction of a new “living-learning” too. “We talked more about the an eye toward teaching, she’s really center — which will integrate student academic quality of the faculty and our hoping to become a pediatric and academic support services with programs, and we also talked about the orthodontist. Creighton’s education was leisure, classroom and meeting space — outcomes,” he said. “The success of our a selling point. “Probably the number is planned to begin in 2006. Since 2000, students getting into professional and one thing was the amazing health Creighton has started, completed or graduate schools and getting jobs. And sciences program that Creighton has,” designed expansion and renovations the success of our alumni long-term.” she said. totaling more than $175 million. The Hixson-Lied Science Building has Universal by Faith, been particularly helpful considering Face and Place Creighton’s perennial attraction for The 2005 incoming freshmen are students eying health sciences-related 40 percent of the mostly a class of faith, too. “I had a very careers. “Students and parents see this good relationship with the Jesuits (in wonderful increase in facilities,” said incoming freshmen high school) and I wanted to attend a Bishop. “A substantial portion of our college where I would be able to surge in enrollments has been students continue my spiritual growth,” said interested in health sciences.” ranked in the top Stable. That sentiment was echoed by Creighton hasn’t become so big, Watson. “I love being involved in peer though, that a freshman could get lost 10 percent of their ministry, and my Catholic upbringing is (OK, more than usual). Chase said the a major part of my life that I will never campus has “a natural advantage” over let go.” Added Monahan: “I knew that I larger private and Catholic universities high school wanted to go to a Jesuit university, and by choosing to stay just under 4,000 this is why Creighton became a undergraduates. “The thing that I like graduating classes, candidate.” most about Creighton is the campus, The three won’t have to keep their because it is not that big and it is while 12 percent Catholicism to themselves on campus. enclosed,” Stable said. “It makes it very Nearly two-thirds of the first-time easy to get around.” Added Schaefer: “It students arriving this August are was perfect. Not too big, not too small.” were their school’s Catholic. They’re active, too: 81 percent CU’s growth is matched by Omaha’s of the incoming freshmen reported downtown and riverfront development. valedictorians or being active in a church or community The admissions office “aggressively” service organization, 26 percent in a uses valuable press from national leadership role. publications such as Forbes magazine salutatorians. Don’t think, though, that Protestants and others that have promoted Omaha need not apply — or Jews, Muslims and of late. The admissions team points to U.S. students of other faiths. Thirty religions The growth makes it that much easier News & World Report rankings that place are represented in the freshman class. to attract locals. “The campus Creighton among the top 50 universities “We’ve always embraced the value of development wasn’t the deciding factor, (and only Catholic institution) for being a Catholic, Jesuit University, and but it certainly made the choice very involving undergraduate students in by openly practicing and celebrating appealing,” said freshman Emily Bartlett, original research, paper presentations, that, people of all faiths can relate to the a graduate of Omaha Marian High School etc. They also stress that 45 percent of importance of having God in their life whose parents both graduated from Creighton’s graduating seniors and they feel less alone,” Bishop said. Creighton. Her father, Stephen, earned a successfully enter professional or “People of faith who want to be in a law degree in 1977, and her mother, Rita graduate school right after finishing close-knit community, who want to (Fucinaro), earned a bachelor’s degree their undergraduate work. become … people of great service to in 1976 and a master’s degree in 1977. “That is one of the largest percentages others, feel very comfortable here.” “Having grown up in Omaha and for any university in the Midwest or in Additional diversity will arrive this seeing the changes in the riverfront and the country,” Chase said. “It appears we fall not by faith, but by face and place. all the projected develoment,” Emily have more freshmen who come in with Students of color will compose about said, “it’s a very exciting time to be part that plan or with that goal.” Students 18 percent of the freshmen, due in large of the Creighton campus.” who indicate such a desire receive extra part to the efforts of Omar Valentine, emphasis in recruiting. Creighton’s coordinator for Awesome Academics, Alumni Like, for example, Watson, a self- multicultural admissions, Bishop said. When it came time to talk academics, labeled nerd who says she is This is higher than any major university

21 Fall 2005 Fantastic Freshmen

in Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and South handedly by one office. Increased Creighton Works to Dakota. Creighton’s total enrollment is enrollment, complemented by a expected to hit 6,850 this fall (another diverse and involved class, is a result Keep Retention High record) and will include students from of a coordinated effort across campus, For three years now, Creighton has all 50 states. A bit more than one-third Bishop said. proved it can get ‘em. But can CU keep will hail from Nebraska, and there’s “We’ve mobilized more factions of ‘em? considerable representation from the University to assist in recruiting, Nationally, according to research by traditional strongholds such as Kansas and they deserve credit for this,” he ACT, Inc., about 32 percent of freshmen City, Minneapolis, Denver, Chicago, said. “The Financial Aid Office is leave a university after their first year. Milwaukee, St. Louis and Hawaii. But absolutely central to our efforts. In That’s a bit better at master’s level private 22 percent will come from the West, many cases, they are the final closers universities (Creighton’s placement), South, Southwest and East Coast — working with the family on which on average lose 25 percent of (growing numbers from Dallas, Austin, financing and listening humanely to their freshmen after Year One. Houston, Phoenix, Las Vegas, their needs.” Creighton’s coaches Creighton is proving it has a better Oklahoma City and Tulsa). Students have always been exceptional in grip on the problem. from more than 40 countries will be making the case for CU, Bishop said, From 1999 to 2003, just 13.1 percent of enrolled as undergraduate, professional but now the University’s admissions Creighton students left after their freshman or graduate students. efforts are being bolstered by year, a marked improvement from the Such diversity makes Creighton even students, faculty, the student services previous four years when 16.2 percent of more appealing to the locals — one department, academic senior freshmen departed. That stretch included reason, Chase said, that the number of management, the development office, an 18.4 percent departure rate in 1997. Omaha-area students has increased from marketing and public relations, and The improvement wasn’t by 250 to 320 students in the last four years. alumni. In fact, about 350 alumni happenstance. “I think we have worked participated in the Creighton Alumni hard to improve the academic advising People Power Partners (CAP) program, assisting of freshmen and sophomores,” said Mary All this hard work doesn’t come easy, their alma mater by attending college Higgins, BA’73, Creighton’s director of of course, and can’t be done single- fairs in their local areas and by undergraduate student retention. contacting admitted students. “Advisers are much better prepared to Diversity and Balance “All of these groups were assist students prior to declaration of Creighton’s 2005 freshman class mobilized and responded to that major. Advisers call incoming freshmen includes 181 students of color, opportunity, and they’ve added to the prior to their first registration so that representing about 18 percent of the personalization of the process. On- they are guided through decisions on class. See chart below. campus visits have been improved course selection. Advisers are asked to Among the entire class, about half because of the commitment our meet individually with each advisee at live 200 miles or more from campus; faculty and others at the University least twice each semester so that the 27 percent have had a family member have shown to personally visit with advising relationship can develop. graduate from Creighton; 25 percent prospective students,” Bishop said. “Students know they have a Creighton are first-generation college students; He added that the faculty, collectively, professional able and willing to assist and, while 63 percent are Catholic, spent “thousands of hours” meeting them with academic and/or personal some 30 religions are represented. with prospective students and issues.” parents. The two most common reasons Racial make-up of Even Kyle Korver did his part, students depart, Higgins said, are Creighton’s students of color though he may not know it. financial strains and academic struggles. Thanks to Creighton’s revamped While the latter certainly can mean a and revitalized emphasis on GPA that falls below 2.0, it also can mean recruiting, Monahan wasn’t left a GPA of 3.0, not something a medical thinking of Creighton only as some school hopeful would want on a tidbit on Korver’s career bio. A transcript. Beyond money and grades, different shot, taken by a Creighton Higgins added, students leave for reasons recruiter to his high school, “is when I as varied as the students themselves — began to learn about the college,” changes of major, physical or mental Monahan said. health issues, homesickness or military “I became aware that the college obligations. “It’s all over the chart,” said had a lot to offer other than its Higgins, who prior to taking her current basketball reputation.” post seven years ago was assistant athletic director for five years and women’s softball coach for 17 years. “Wanting to

22 Fall 2005 Fantastic Freshmen live in a bigger city, wanting a smaller just fool around and watch TV, my community. Wanting a more liberal roommate would keep on asking if I had environment, wanting a more any homework to do.” Nakandakare’s conservative environment. Ds turned into a couple of Cs with the “If a student does decide to leave, it is remaining grades all Bs in the second not usually appropriate to try to talk semester of her freshman year. them out of it. Usually, the decision has As in Nakandakare’s case, additional already been made, and it is our job to help came from outside the retention help them depart gracefully and to office. “It truly ‘takes a university’ to make sure that the student is familiar retain a student,” said Higgins. While with the correct procedures and has all some students ask for assistance on their his or her questions answered. Nearly own and the Faculty Feedback Program all retention-related initiatives are done catches others, her office depends on on the front end and are designed to Student Support Services staff, resident

increase student satisfaction.” Photo by Mark Romesser advisers, coaches, administrators and Higgins’ office was formed about Retention director Mary Higgins consults with a others to suggest when a student might 10 years ago when the University was student. need help. In Nakandakare’s case, her experiencing “attrition difficulty” that mother made the first call on her continued to be pronounced with the daughter’s behalf. exodus of sophomores. Each entering Sarah Belt praises several individuals class from 1995 to 1998, for instance, lost for helping her through a rocky second approximately 25 percent of its students “Students know they semester. Her first semester went so after their second year. That’s improved well, she said, that “over Christmas to 21 percent in 2001 and 19.5 percent in break, I felt like superwoman.” Come 2002. Early figures on the Class of 2004 have a Creighton the next round of finals, though, “The indicate continued progress with just 3.2 pressure was so much that I honestly percent of freshmen leaving after their professional able felt like I was having a meltdown. I was first semester, the lowest mark in 10 years in the Student Support Services office, and less than half the figure in 1997. bawling my eyes out in front of Rich Why the improvement? Better financial and willing to Jehlik (one of the office’s advisers) and aid has helped, but it’s with academic thinking to myself that I should have set aid where CU really has made strides. assist them with my sights lower, gone to a school that That’s just what Julie Nakandakare wasn’t as academically demanding. needed after struggling mightily as a Countless times I was ready to throw in freshman. The Hawaiian psychology academic and/or the towel.” major says she missed too many classes Jehlik helped Belt through her biology her first semester and didn’t know how personal issues.” class, and Cynthia Fitzgerald, the to adequately study for tests. “By the office’s senior counselor, met with Belt time I tried to get serious and bring up — Mary Higgins, weekly. When money became tight, my grades,” she said, “it was too late.” Director of undergraduate retention Tami Buffalohead-McGill, BA’89, Nakandakare found herself on Creighton’s director of Student Support academic probation — and in Higgins’ Services, arranged a work-study job for office. A strategy was developed that Creighton’s Don Bishop has shown that Belt. “The entire staff and the other included Nakandakare dropping chemistry those students post a median GPA of students in the office really kept my in the spring so she could concentrate on 2.8 by the fall semester, with nearly spirits up and helped me laugh when her other classes. She also took “Strategies 25 percent earning a 3.2 or higher. things became too much,” she said. for Academic Success,” a two-credit class Freshmen and sophomores with a GPA The result? Belt didn’t throw in the that covers reading comprehension, below 2.0 who already have taken the towel. note-taking and outlining, test preparation, class are assigned to meet regularly with Neither did Nakandakare and, time and stress management, motivation an academic probation counselor. “The increasingly, other Creighton students and goal-setting. Up to 125 “at risk” course and the personal intervention are who, once on campus, are deciding to students are expected to take the class Creighton’s best means of boosting stay. this fall. The course is required for academic preparedness,” said Higgins. incoming students with slightly lower The class worked for Nakandakare. “I About the author: Anthony Flott is a ACT scores, as well as freshmen whose studied really hard from the beginning freelance writer in Omaha. GPA falls below 2.0 after the first semester. of the semester,” she said. “My friends Among the former group, research by helped me a lot. Every time I wanted to

23 Fall 2005 The Ethics of End of Life Care: Lessons to be Learned from the Schiavo Case

Recently, five Creighton faculty The Ethics of End-of-Life Care: members convened to discuss the case of Terri Schiavo. Or rather, to discuss what we may learn from that tragic case. For there is little point in commenting yet again on the particulars of this case. Too many people have Lessons already done so, some qualified, many not so qualified, and most without to be firsthand information about her case. It is time that we allow Terri to rest in peace and her family to mourn the loss. There is much we can learn. Although Learned the Schiavo case was unusually complicated in that many vexing ethical issues converged in that one case, each from the of those ethical issues occurs elsewhere with considerable frequency. Thousands of patients, families and caregivers throughout the U.S. are dealing with similar issues right now or will be soon. Schiavo Consider, first of all, Schiavo’s medical condition: PVS or “persistent vegetative state.” As Richard O’Brien, M.D., a colleague of mine in Creighton’s Center for Health Policy and Ethics, Case points out, “This is truly a devastating By Jos V.M. Welie, MMedS, J.D., Ph.D. diagnosis. PVS essentially means that Professor, Center for Health Policy and Ethics the patient’s cortex (or higher brain) has been destroyed, hence the synonym ‘cortical death.’ The patient is not dead because her brain stem is still intact. It keeps the ‘vegetative’ functions of the body operating, such as breathing, heart rhythm, digestion and the wake-sleep cycle. The patient even responds reflexively to stimuli, such as following objects moved in front of her eyes. But the part of the brain that enables higher functions, such as thinking and emotion, has been damaged beyond repair. Awaking from PVS after three months is exceedingly rare and after 24 months essentially nonexistent.” (An autopsy on Schiavo found that she had massive and irreversible brain damage, and that her brain was about half of its expected size. “No amount of therapy or treatment,” the autopsy report states, “would have regenerated the massive loss of neurons.”) Is a patient in a PVS terminally ill? Is she actually dying? As long as life- sustaining technologies such as artificial nutrition and, in some cases, ventilatory FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFsupport are applied, death is not Photo illustration by Andrew Marinkovich Andrew Photo illustration by imminent. But neither is there a real

X Fall 2005 unlikely ever to be one. For as new treatments and technologies are invented, the same question will recur. But the ethical literature provides In the latter half of some helpful conceptual tools. One dates back to ancient medical ethics, another to Catholic health care ethics. the 20th century ... Ancient physicians were already aware of the fact that medical interventions we came to realize may be harmful. They admonished their colleagues first and foremost to do no that life-sustaining harm, to abstain when benefits are unclear, and not to treat when the medical treatments patient is overmastered by disease. Today, we would say that treatment must be “medically indicated” before it are a mixed blessing. is commenced or continued. In other words, physicians need scientific and There can come a clinical evidence that a particular intervention is likely to benefit the point when the patient before they can recommend it to the patient. For example, if an infection Photo by Andrew Marinkovich Andrew Photo by burdens of such Welie ... the key question to ask is not, “Shall we is caused by a virus rather than a stop treatment?” But rather, “Should we begin bacterium, penicillin will not work. or continue it?” Penicillin is not indicated, and hence treatments outweigh should not be started. Likewise, if the reasons that originally motivated the benefits. chance of recovery. The patient treatment no longer apply, the treatment continues to breathe and metabolize, should be discontinued. If but she will never again be able to chemotherapy turns out not to shrink to do so. Without such a “medical pursue life’s ends. Medical technologies the tumor, it would be wrong for a indication” physicians should not treat. have allowed us to maintain physical physician to continue that intervention. So the key question to be asked is not: existence and stretch out the dying Even if the patient were to insist on it, “Shall we stop treatment?” The key phase over many years. physicians may never do things to question is: “Shall we begin it?” Or if it has That brings us to the second issue: patients they cannot justify on sound already begun: “Shall we continue it?” The What is the proper role of medical scientific grounds. burden of proof is always on the person treatment and technology in the dying One of the problems in cases such as who wants to begin or continue medical phase of life? In the latter half of the the Schiavo case is that we ask the treatment; that person must justify the 20th century, at the very time that we wrong question. Imagine you visit your treatment. This rule applies to all medical had finally obtained the biomedical doctor’s office because of a persistent interventions, including life-sustaining science and technology to cure most cough. The physician examines you and interventions. A physician may propose patients or at least help them survive then tells you: “I am going to do lung dialysis only if she has good reason to life-threatening illness and traumas, surgery.” This is certainly not what you believe that dialysis will be an effective something strange happened. Patients expected her to say. So you respond: remedy. A physician should only began to refuse those life-sustaining “Surgery? Why surgery?” But now the resuscitate a patient whose heart has interventions. Initially, this was physician appears perplexed and stopped beating if she has good reason to shocking news to many physicians. But answers: “Why not? Why should I not believe that CPR (cardio-pulmonary we came to realize that life-sustaining do surgery?” So you say, “I don’t know; resuscitation) will benefit the patient. It medical treatments are a mixed blessing. I am not a doctor.” To which she replies: may come as a shock to avid ER fans, but There can come a point when the “Well if there is no reason to forgo in many cases CPR is not an effective and burdens of such treatments outweigh surgery, we may as well begin.” This beneficial intervention. The success the benefits. Instead of healing the would be a strange and perplexing statistics for the hospitalized patient patient, they harm her. The tricky conversation indeed. For you rightfully whose heart stops beating and is then question in all of this is: “When exactly expected the physician to explain why resuscitated are actually rather poor. does this happen? When does medical and how lung surgery will help. Some may wonder whether this is really FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFtreatment become harmful to patients?” Whenever physicians want to initiate an important issue. Why does it matter There is no simple answer, and there is treatment, they must have good reasons which question is asked? By asking the

25 Fall 2005 The Ethics of End-of-Life Care: Lessons to be Learned from the Schiavo Case

wrong question, we become hostages of always underscored the sanctity of extraordinary treatment must always medical treatments and technologies. human life, indeed of all of human life, be determined in reference to the We begin to think that it is normal and including frail, sick and disabled individual patient while considering his natural for people to be hooked up to persons. Each of us is individually or her unique situation. For example, machines and to undergo multiple responsible to be a good steward of our antibiotics may be perfectly ordinary diagnostic and therapeutic own life, and as a community we are for most patients, but maybe not for interventions. Do we really want charged to respect and protect the lives Mr. Jones, who is 96 years old and physicians to do anything and of our fellow men. However, the Church suffering from advanced dementia, everything they can possibly do to us also acknowledges that good kidney failure and an unhealed unless and until somebody can prove stewardship does not require that we broken hip. Artificial nutrition may be that they should stop? There is wisdom use every possible medical treatment perfectly ordinary for a patient who in the old medical-ethical rule: In dubio and technology to extend life. The underwent abdominal surgery and abstine, when in doubt, abstain. Vatican Declaration on Euthanasia from whose intestines need a break from The second ethical tool comes to us 1980 underscores that we are morally digesting food. On the other hand, it from Catholic medical ethics, the so- required to use all ‘ordinary’ means but may not be ordinary for a patient who called “ordinary vs. extraordinary” may forgo ‘extraordinary’ means.” is dying. distinction. John Carlson, Ph.D., It should be emphasized that the “In fact, it may become too professor and chair of the Department word “ordinary” does not at all mean burdensome physically for a dying of Philosophy at Creighton, explains “common,” “routine” or “normal.” patient,” cautions Amy Haddad, Ph.D., that “Catholic moral doctrine has Rather, what is ordinary or professor and director of the Center for

A Legal Look at End-of-Life Issues How can you prepare Be as precise as possible; try to avoid decide for yourself and need for the end of life? vague language that caregivers and somebody else to make health family members will have difficulty care decisions for you. Julia Belian, JD, assistant professor of interpreting. 3. It is also possible to issue both, or law, encourages people to write down Know your options under the law. a combination of the former two their wishes regarding end-of-life Most of us forget we live in a documents. For example, you can medical care, including any specific federalist system with 50 sovereign grant a family member the power instructions to caregivers, as well as states, and each has the potential to of attorney to make decisions on who should enforce those instructions. handle things somewhat differently, your behalf, but also specify what In all 50 states, such documents — including advance directives. kinds of medical care you would also called advance directives — are However, in all states, such (not) want to undergo. legally binding. These directives only directives can take one of three Share your directives. Provide copies take effect when you cannot express forms: to all health-care providers who your wishes yourself anymore (e.g., 1. A specific description of your might need them, to all persons because you are in a coma). Belian offers wishes for end-of-life care. This named as decision-makers, and to all these tips: document is generally called a other family members or close “living will,” but is known by friends who should know about different legal names in different their existence. Advance directives states. Most of these state laws do that are safely stored away are not protect your written wishes simply useless. about medical care in general, but only what medical care you are Although most state laws do not willing to accept when you are require that an advance directive be nearing death. written by a lawyer, Belian says 2. A document in which you grant working with a lawyer is probably the some other person the authority most reliable way to make sure that to make health care decisions on your document will be legally effective. your behalf. These “power of Second choice is to complete a form attorney for health care” familiar to your doctor or health care documents cover all situations system. Most hospitals have forms. Photo by Andrew Marinkovich Andrew Photo by Belian least favors documents provided FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFBelian ... advance directives are legally binding (including end-of-life care in all 50 states. situations) in which you cannot by web-based companies.

26 Fall 2005 The Ethics of End-of-Life Care: Lessons to be Learned from the Schiavo Case

Health Policy and Ethics. “Dying patients rarely feel hunger or thirst like High-Profile ‘Right to Die‘ Court Battles healthy people. They don’t suffer Several court battles have shaped living will legislation since Karen Ann discomfort as a result of dehydration. Quinlan’s parents fought the first right-to-die case in 1976. Three high-profile Rather, forcing food and fluids into cases in which families fought court battles to take loved ones off life support and dying patients may make them feel very the legislative results that followed: uncomfortable once their organ systems are shutting down. YEAR RULING RESULT Of course, this does not mean that if a 1976 New Jersey Supreme Court ruled Many states passed competent dying patient asked for Karen Ann Quinlan’s parents had laws recognizing water or food, we would refuse his the right to remove her from life living wills as legal request. The intent here should be to support. She had been in a coma documents. alleviate the patient’s discomfort.” for six years. How case-specific the ordinary- Quinlan extraordinary distinction really is 1990 Nancy Cruzan of Missouri was Congress passed law becomes clear from an example fed through a tube for seven years requiring hospitals provided by Julia Fleming, Ph.D., until the Supreme Court ruled in to tell patients about associate professor of theology. 1990 that it could be removed. state laws on living “The distinction actually predates wills. modern medical technologies, for it was Cruzan articulated in the 16th century. A 17th century Jesuit theologian provided this 2004 Florida Supreme Court struck down Variety of actions in example of a potentially life-saving a law that reconnected the feeding state legislatures are treatment that a patient could choose to tube of Terri Schiavo in a battle trying to beef up forgo. Suppose that, for the sake of her between her husband and parents. living will laws. good name, a virgin felt it necessary Schiavo never to submit to a medical examination conducted by a man. Even 2005 Supreme Court refused to step in to keep Schiavo hooked if she were suffering from a life- to a feeding tube. threatening illness, such a medical Source: AP Worldwide examination would be unduly burdensome, and hence, not required, for that woman.” have consented to or rather refused bear the burdens of the treatment?” We should not mistake the ordinary- these interventions?” That is an Another frequent mistake results from extraordinary distinction for the modern important question, but it should be medicine’s super-specialization. Such right to refuse treatment. The 17th asked only after it has been decided that specialization, of course, has evident century physician in the previous the interventions will benefit the patient. value but also carries risks. By focusing example was not morally obligated to Most assuredly, in order to determine on one organ or organ part, and on one forgo treatment because the woman what will benefit the patient, we have to intervention at a time, we often lose exercised her right to refuse even consider the individual patient herself. sight of the whole picture. We forget beneficial medical treatment. Rather, the That is exactly what the “ordinary- that the patient is really undergoing all treatment itself was no longer in her extraordinary” distinction requires. And of these interventions at the same time. best interests because its benefits were nobody is a better source of information Consider again the example of a patient outweighed by its burdens. than the patient herself. So we need to in PVS. The debates in Schiavo’s case Unfortunately, modern medical ethics engage the patient in the discussion. But focused on the artificial nutrition only, frequently makes this mistake. When the core questions are not: “Do you want as if this was the only treatment she was the question arises whether antibiotics, treatment X — yes or no?” and “Is the undergoing. ventilation or artificial nutrition is still patient competent to make such a But as Creighton’s Haddad reminds indicated and ordinary, we are tempted decision? If not, who is legally us, “These patients are not mobile but to turn to the patient or his family authorized to consent to treatment?” lie in bed all day. For example, they can members and say, “Well, you decide.” Rather, the core questions are: “Who is quickly develop very persistent pressure The same happened in the Schiavo case. this patient? How is her life broken and ulcers that require extensive nursing care. Instead of focusing on the question can we heal it? What are the patient’s Muscles contract and become atrophic, whether the various medical expectations and goals, and can medical necessitating intensive physical therapy. interventions were benefiting Schiavo, treatment realistically help her reach And all of this is complicated by the fact FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFthe courts zoomed-in on the question, those? Does the patient have the that the patient cannot herself cooperate “Was there any evidence that she would physical and psychological resources to in any way in her own healing process.

27 Fall 2005 The Ethics of End-of-Life Care: Lessons to be Learned from the Schiavo Case

We really need to make a continuous Decision-Making effort to focus on the patient as a whole and Families person as opposed to a collection of Health professionals often reach a organs, a patient with her own life story, “From a Christian decision about the appropriateness of a patient in context.” withdrawing useless or overly And here we find the third cause that perspective, death burdensome treatment before family rendered the Schiavo case so vexing: members do, according to professor Nutrition and hydration are very Amy Haddad, Ph.D., BSN’75, director context-specific terms. is inevitable, but of Creighton’s Center for Health “From a biomedical perspective, there Policy and Ethics. really is no difference between artificial it is not the end. “The trajectory of illness or injury is ventilation and artificial nutrition,” not obvious to family members, and O’Brien explains. “Both mechanically so it takes more time for them to transport molecules into the body that Death is indeed appreciate that a treatment is futile or are needed for our body to keep provides no benefit or that the benefits functioning. In the case of ventilation, an evil to be are outweighed by burdens to the it’s oxygen; in the case of nutrition, it’s patient,” Haddad said. proteins, carbohydrates and the like. She added that explanations about Once inside, the body (respectively the struggled against, the course of the patient’s pathology lungs and the digestive tract) absorbs should be in terms that the family can and processes those molecules. And yet, but death is not understand and delivered in an most people have far fewer ethical unhurried, compassionate manner. qualms about removal of a ventilator (as “There should be time for questions opposed to artificial nutrition).” the ultimate evil.” and repetition,” Haddad said. Why is this? The difference lies in the “Decisions to withhold or withdraw fact that food and drink — but not air — Julia Fleming, Ph.D. treatment are not routine for families, — have very important social associate professor of theology even if they may be for health connotations. For example, when we professionals. Every consideration share a meal with a patient or bring her should be given to help mitigate the a cup of freshly brewed coffee, we do so the other person to die, and we direct anguish families go through when not only because we are trying to keep our actions toward that person’s death. deciding for a loved one who can that person alive. Rather, the meal is a If a patient begs his physician to help no longer actively participate in nonverbal way of communicating, a him die, and the physician next injects a decision-making.” special way of being together, of very large and lethal overdose of pain expressing care and love. Yet it is killers, there are only two possible precisely this value-added meaning that conclusions: Either the physician is is lost when we switch to artificial incompetent and does not know how to nutrition and hydration. Some ethicists treat pain, or she committed euthanasia. believe that this loss is not decisive, On the other hand, if family members concluding that artificial nutrition is and caregivers jointly come to the ethically analogous to regular feeding. conclusion that available medical Others think the loss is decisive, treatments cannot heal our 96-year-old concluding that artificial nutrition is Mr. Jones; that these treatments add to, analogous to artificial ventilation instead. instead of relieve, the burden for the This issue is not likely to be settled soon. patient; that the various monitors and In the meantime, we will all continue machines are now infringing on, instead to grow old, fall ill and ultimately die. of supporting, the patient’s intrinsic and “From a Christian perspective, death inviolable dignity; in short, when they Photo by Andrew Marinkovich Andrew Photo by is inevitable, but it is not the end,” find that it is time to let go, their Haddad ... health care professionals need to Fleming reminds patients, family discontinuing these medical better explain to family members the stages members and health care professionals. interventions is not euthanasia. of a loved one’s disease and care options available. “Death is indeed an evil to be struggled There is a time to act vigorously to against, but death is not the ultimate protect and extend human life, all human evil.” life. And there is a time to let go. Indeed, letting go is not euthanasia. FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFEuthanasia (and likewise physician- assisted suicide) requires that we want

28 Fall 2005 The Ethics of End-of-Life Care: Lessons to be Learned from the Schiavo Case

A Natural Means of Preserving Life? By John W. Carlson, Ph.D. Professor of Philosophy Few issues have roiled the waters of “ordinary,” the latter applying to means Catholic biomedical ethics like the debate of preserving life that satisfy two over medically delivered nutrition and criteria: First, they offer a reasonable hope hydration for patients in persistent of benefit to the patient (considered as a vegetative (and similar) states. This whole individual). Second, they involve issue has produced opposing positions no excessive or disproportionate among academics, medical professionals, burden, in particular to the patient. and even bishops. It involves questions Interpretive controversy arises about about both the interpretation of Church the fuller articulation of “benefit” and

teachings and the application of these about how it is to be determined Marinkovich Andrew Photo by teachings to difficult cases. Classical whether a treatment’s burden is truly Carlson ... the Church recognizes that in some starting points for the debate include a disproportionate. In the present type of cases a patient should be allowed to die. 1957 allocution by Pope Pius XII on case, a special question arises: whether “ordinary” vs. “extraordinary” means of continued biological life with no realistic based National Catholic Bioethics Center maintaining life, and the Congregation possibility of cognitive awareness is to — regard the issue as now definitively for the Doctrine of the Faith’s 1980 be regarded as a benefit, or a sufficient resolved: If nutrients and fluids can be document, Iura et Bona, on euthanasia benefit, to fall under the standard assimilated by the body, their provision and related matters. Pope John Paul II teaching. But it also has been asked is absolutely required. Other trusted made several contributions to the whether some medically delivered commentators — e.g., Kevin O’Rourke, discussion, the most famous coming in forms of sustenance are, so to speak, O.P., now of the medical center at a 2004 address to a Vatican conference ordinary by their very nature, and thus, Loyola of Chicago, and John Paris, S.J., a on this very issue. when medically necessary for continued bioethicist at Boston College — disagree. Briefly, the Church’s pertinent moral life, always to be used. My own view is that John Paul’s remarks teachings can be summarized as follows. In his 2004 address, John Paul II are best read in the context of his call for Euthanasia, defined in Iura et Bona as surprised many by seeming to side with building a “culture of life.” The phrase “an act or omission that of its nature or those who answer the last question in “in principle” in the previous quote by intention causes death” (i.e., the the affirmative: “The administration of indicates that the pope was not death of a patient), is never to be food and water, even when provided by propounding a moral absolute; rather, morally approved. However, some cases artificial means, always represents a he was pleading with societies to make in which a patient is allowed to die can be natural means of preserving life.” it economically and psychologically seen, not as euthanasia by omission, but Moreover, its use “should be feasible for patients and families to rather as justifiable decisions to considered, in principle, ordinary and choose life even in extremis. discontinue — or not to begin — modes proportionate, and as such morally of treatment that constitute obligatory. ...” (Emphasis in original.) About the author: Carlson’s academic “extraordinary means.” The term Some commentators — e.g., Vatican specialties are biomedical ethics and public “extraordinary” is defined by contrast with Bishop Elio Sgreccia, and the Boston- policy and thought of Pope John Paul II.

About the author: Welie, a native of the Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Later Netherlands who joined Creighton in 1997, this year, the second edition of Welie’s has studied the ethics of end-of-life care for Educational Guide on End-of-Life Care many years. His most recent book is titled Law and Public Policy in Nebraska will Death and Medical Power: An Ethical be published by the Nebraska Coalition for Analysis of Dutch Euthanasia Practice Compassionate Care. Readers interested in (Open University Press 2005). This volume the “ordinary-extraordinary” distinction is co-authored with Henk ten Have, M.D., may want to obtain a copy of the autumn Ph.D., a former senior visiting fellow at issue of The National Catholic Bioethics Creighton’s Center for Health Policy and Quarterly, which will be devoted to this Ethics and current director of the Division of very topic and contain an article by Welie. FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFEthics of Science and Technology at the United Nations Educational Scientific and

29 Fall 2005 “Water, water, water is coming!” Rebuilding The Rev. Joseph Mary, S.J., had just finished Sunday morning Mass and was sitting down to breakfast when a frantic young boy came running into the rectory yelling and screaming that ominous warning. “I looked out, and, lo and behold, the sea had spread out its fangs and was rushing to devour us!” Fr. Joseph remembers. Overpowering Fr. Joseph’s poor, seafaring community in Hope Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, that Dec. 26, 2004, morning was a tsunami of epic proportions — one that would grab the PHOTOGRAPHY BY DON DOLL, S.J. world’s attention as it tore through several Asian countries, claiming an estimated 225,000 lives. WRITTEN BY RICK DAVIS, BA’88 Eight months later, those devastated by the tsunami continue to rebuild their shattered lives. And, in many areas, the Jesuits are accompanying them in this difficult journey. The Rev. Don Doll, S.J., who holds the Charles and Mary Heider Endowed Jesuit Faculty Chair at Creighton, spent several weeks in India and Sri Lanka in April with Creighton alumna Anne Burke, BA’82, and her husband, freelance videographer Chris Bell, to document the work of the Jesuits. Burke and Bell are producing a video titled “The Spirit of the Tsunami.” For more on the video, visit Fr. Doll’s website, http://magis.creighton.edu.
J

At left, Fr. Joseph watches as a villager puts the final touches on a fishing canoe. Through donations to the Jesuit Relief Service, the community was able to purchase 100 new boats.

Fr. Joseph blesses the sea after blessing the boat of two local fishermen — Thangavadivel, 42, left, and Puvanendran, 38. After the tsunami, many people felt betrayed by the sea, which they revered as a loving mother and provider. Jesuit priests, like Fr. Joseph, are trying to rebuild that trust in the ocean.

30 Fall 2005 Top, Fr. Joseph shows 4-year-old Charles Anthony how to reverence his brother, David Benedict, who died in the tsunami, as his mother, Parameswarie, and his sisters, Stella, 18, and Nishanthini, 14, look on.

Above and right, locals carry stones and fit them into place as the foundations for new homes. The Jesuits are helping to build 100 homes between two area Jesuit parishes in Batticaloa. In Fr. Joseph’s parish alone, nearly 600 homes were destroyed and 165 people were killed by the tsunami.

31 Fall 2005 Rebuilding Hope

Even in the wake of the devastating atmosphere of discrimination, the Jesuits “To be with the poor tsunami, news reports told of Dalits not have undertaken a preferential option to is to be with God,” said being allowed to drink from water tanks serve the Dalits. “To be a friend of God, the Rev. Peter Arokiadass, S.J., a Jesuit set up by relief agencies — for fear they to be a friend of Jesus today, is to be a priest living and working in India. And might “pollute” the water — and of friend of the poor, a friend of the victims in India, the poorest of the poor are the Dalit children being denied access to of sufferings,” Fr. Peter said. Dalits — the outcasts, the “untouchables.” basic latrines in relief camps. In this
J

At top, the Rev. A. Sahaya Philomin Raj, S.J., an advocate or lawyer, passes out Tamil translations of the government’s guidelines for obtaining tsunami aid in the Dalit village of Yerum Salai Graman, in southeast India. The government had published the guidelines in English, which the Jesuits then translated.

At left, a Dalit woman listens intently to Fr. Philomin, and two Dalit men ride new bikes that the Jesuits helped acquire.

32 Fall 2005 Rebuilding Hope

Bangalore Madras Tsunami Facts Mangalore KARNATAKA The Dec. 26, 2004, tsunami killed tens of Pondicherry Cuddalore thousands of people in more than 11 countries Calicut Karaikal and left millions more homeless. The hardest TAMIL NADU Nagapattinam hit areas, according to the World Bank, were: KERALA Madurai INDONESIA Epicenter Confirmed dead ...... 126,732 of quake Missing...... 93,662 Trivandrum –Hours Approximate tsunami travel times, SRI LANKA SRI Batticaloa moving at about 500 miles per hour. LANKA Confirmed dead ...... 31,147 Lacadive Sea Missing...... 4,115 Pidurutalagala 300 km Mountain INDIA 0 300 Miles Confirmed dead ...... 10,881 Missing...... 5,792 A massive undersea earthquake (9.0 Richter scale) off the coast of Sumatra on the morning of Dec. 26, 2004, triggered a tsunami of historic Other statistics from the World Bank: proportions — sending waves 12- to 14-feet Overall economic losses from the tsunami are estimated high slamming into the eastern coastline of Sri to total more than $7 billion, with the poor Lanka and India. disproportionately affected. More than two-thirds of Sri Lanka’s fishing boats were damaged or destroyed by the tsunami. The tsunami disrupted the ability to earn a living for some 645,000 families in India, most of them from fishing communities. An estimated 480,000 people in Sri Lanka and 135,000 people in India were left homeless by the tsunami.

The Vailankanni Shrine Inside the Vailankanni Shrine Basilica, located near the Indian Ocean on the southeastern tip of India, the faithful once again gather in prayer. According to tradition, Mary appeared as an apparition with the infant Jesus on separate occasions to two boys in the 16th century and rescued a troubled 17th century Portuguese ship from stormy seas at Vailankanni. Outside the ornate white exterior of this 17th century Roman Catholic church, the narrow road leading up from the ocean is once again filled with people and merchants. But on that harrowing day of Dec. 26, 2004, the same street was awash with chaos and death as the waves from the tsunami came crashing in, killing an estimated 1,200 people in the vicinity of the shrine. After the disaster, the church, which was not damaged, became a refuge for those left homeless.

Above left, the street leading up from the sea to Vailankanni Shrine. Center, a view from the street to the shrine. Right, inside the shrine pilgrims from around the world gather in prayer.

33 Fall 2005 Rebuilding Hope

Jesuits in Tamil Nadu, India, established an engine repair course for local youth — rebuilding their salt-damaged fishing boat motors. At top, two proud boys — Manohar (left) and Sahadevan — carry one of the boat engines.

estimated 8,000 people died and about The courses are not only about “We are there with 130,000 homes were badly damaged or teaching a skill … they are about the people, struggling destroyed. building hope. “Seeing so many dead bodies and so Fr. Anbu tells the story of a young boy with them, fighting many houses destroyed, it was deep in grief, struggling with the loss of with them and teaching them unbelievable,” Fr. Anbu said. “Really, I his mother — a tsunami victim. “He was skills … and we are building their lost hope.” on the brink of committing suicide,” Fr. humanity,” said the Rev. Anbarasan But he set to work with his fellow Anbu explained. The Jesuit priest began (Anbu) Mariaraj, S.J. Jesuits, establishing vocational programs talking to the boy and invited him to Fr. Anbu is a newly ordained priest for area youth and women. Young men participate in the engine repair course. and vocation promoter for the Jesuits of now enthusiastically gather for a course “Now he has found himself fit to live,” the Madurai Province in Tamil Nadu, a on boat engine repair and more than 40 Fr. Anbu said. “He has found hope in state in southern India. Tamil Nadu was women are enrolled in a tailoring class, real devastation.” especially hard hit by the tsunami — an among other programs. Fr. Anbu has seen similar success with

34 Fall 2005 Rebuilding Hope

More than 40 women are enrolled in the Jesuit-run tailoring class in Tamil Nadu, including 28-year-old Selvi (above), a mother of four whose family lost their house and all their possessions in the tsunami. the tailoring program. After the tsunami, other support. “Once, we were telling are equipping people for the future,” Fr. he said, many women stayed in their jokes, and this woman started to laugh,” Anbu said. “We are reaching out to homes, overcome by grief. The tailoring Fr. Anbu said. “She told me that after so them, and we are rebuilding their program has provided these women many months, she could finally laugh humanity.” with a loving community where they again.”
 can share their stories and offer each “Through these training programs, we J

Fr. Anbu watches as women enrolled in his tailoring class complete a project.

35 Fall 2005 Rebuilding Hope

Left, children listen as Fr. Eugine tells a story, while (top) a young girl named Veni draws a picture as part of a counseling effort in Nagapattinam, India.

“We are accompanying people in their empty hands first, and we stay in the “They love us so struggle,” Fr. Paul continued. “We are village and study the situation and much because we traveling with them in their struggle. We study the real needs of each person.” hope that it will bear fruit and that our The Rev. Eugine Muthu, S.J., director were there with them journey with them will instill a sense of of Rural Action for Development and in their difficulties,” hope.” Research for the Jesuit’s Madurai said the Rev. Paul Mike, S.J., coordinator The Jesuits are doing more than just Province, organized 84 religious nuns for the Jesuit Tsunami Service relief providing basic relief — distributing and students, some of whom were Jesuit effort in Tamil Nadu’s Nagapattinam supplies and aid. As Fr. Anbu puts it: scholastics, to visit traumatized tsunami district. “We go into the communities with victims in 72 villages in the

Fr. Stephen, standing, congratulates the children on their drawings, which show scenes from their tsunami experience.

36 Fall 2005 Rebuilding Hope

The Jesuits in Tamil Nadu have passed out backpacks, textbooks, school supplies and school uniforms to about 1,900 school children. Four Jesuit-run educational summer camps in May attracted more than 1,000 children.

Nagapattinam district. The death toll in notebooks, writing supplies, as well as assistance to some 1,000 students. Nagapattinam topped 6,000. school uniforms — to about 1,900 The healing takes time, but the Jesuits “What we do is go and meet the school-age children in 42 villages. are making progress. people who are grieving and be with They also conducted creative “They are getting back their own faith them and enable them to talk to workshops that allowed children to in people, themselves and God,” Fr. somebody,” Fr. Eugine said. share their pain and grief in words and Eugine said, adding: “The work that the The Rev. Stephen Martin, S.J., pictures. Jesuits are doing is very personal.” organized an Education Service Team Study centers were established in the
 for the Jesuit Tsunami Service. villages to supplement the students’ J The team distributed educational formal education, and a special summer materials — school bags, textbooks, program is providing educational

Members of the Jesuit Tsunami Service in Tamil Nadu join in song about the coming together of people following the tsunami. Fr. Paul, one of the coordinators, is seated second from left. The song, written by Fr. Stephen (seated, middle), concludes:

Hands were held out without looking at caste Shouldered the burden without ascertaining one’s creed An army of people came to serve. That spirit of service is Humanness!

37 Fall 2005 CREIGHTON CENTENNIAL FEATURE: The School of Pharmacy and Health By Pam Adams Vaughn Features Editor Professions Creighton University’s School of • Major cardiovascular disease led, Pharmacy and Health Professions Celebrating 100 Years followed by influenza and celebrates its centennial this year. of Excellence pneumonia. Tuberculosis was still A century ago, the School occupied The Creighton University School rampant in the U.S., with gastric space at the new Edward Creighton of Pharmacy and Health Professions microbial disease not far behind. Institute at 210 S. 18th St. — and, in dates its beginnings to 1905, when • Accidents, cancers, diphtheria and September 1907, earned a place of its the trustees of Creighton University typhoid were next in line, followed by own in a new three-story building purchased the Omaha School of measles, cirrhosis (liver failure) and adjoining the medical school on the Pharmacy (founded in 1901). The whooping cough. west, at 14th and Davenport streets. School expanded in 1982 to the • Syphilis, diabetes, suicide and According to Creighton Historian School of Pharmacy and Allied streptococcal throat ailments Dennis Mihelich, Ph.D., “The first floor Health Professions. It added completed the list of top national contained a large lobby, steel student occupational therapy in 1985 and, killers, in that order. lockers, the administrative office, a library 10 years later, offered the nation’s (and) a museum. … The second floor first doctoral program in physical These major illnesses often reflected housed the faculty room, two large lecture therapy. The School also includes not only the lack of weapons against halls, a ‘model prescription room, and a programs in pharmaceutical sciences, infectious disease but also the limitations private laboratory for the use of the in emergency medical services and in of the human environment. As people members of the faculty.’ The top story health services administration. Over drew into ever-larger urban groups, consisted of the ‘general stock room and the past 100 years, Creighton’s limitations that included lack of good main pharmaceutical and chemical School of Pharmacy and Health water sanitation, poor food safety and laboratories,’ which provided ‘space for Professions has been an innovative poor lifestyle choices resulted in one hundred and forty students to work leader in educating health characteristic rises in related — and at one time.’” professionals of distinction, in often fatal — illnesses. How different that world of conducting valuable research, and in But the times were gradually to change. pharmacy was from today’s world. serving the community and the world. For instance, said Creighton’s Dean of Back then, a walk through these Pharmacy and Health Professions J. Chris laboratories would yield a glimpse of the Bradberry, Pharm.D., at the turn of the school’s latest pharmacopoeia, a model the profession in the early 1900s, long century and into the 1930s, pharmacy of its time. Jars marked with the following before sulfonamides (one of the first practice was focused on the art of compounds probably stood proudly on chemical substances used to treat and compounding chemicals into the shelves: superrich acid, Paregoric prevent bacterial infections in humans) individualized dosage forms. As opium for coughs and diarrhea, the and the rise of antibiotics would change pharmaceutical research advanced in common purgative Ipecac, aromatic the course of pharmacy forever. the 20th century and pharmaceutical spirits of ammonia, ferrous Belladonna The biggest challenges to human health manufacturers produced drugs that (an antispasmodic), mercury, ferrous at the turn of the century? According to were not required to be compounded, sulfate (iron), Hemlock compound and to the U.S. Census Bureau’s historical pharmacy practice began to shift to a the like. Mixing various compounds like and statistical abstracts, the causes more patient-oriented and drug therapy these was the chief work of the typical of death at the time the School opened focus, with compounding medications turn-of-the-century pharmacist. would have been pretty straightforward: taking a secondary role for pharmacists. These were the promise and hope of Meanwhile, too, the lines between

38 Fall 2005 Creighton’s Chris Destache, PharmD’84, left, and Alekha Dash, Ph.D., are conducting innovative research in the field of nanotechnology. Photo by Mike Kleveter

39 Fall 2005 Creighton Centennial Feature: The School of Pharmacy and Health Professions

medicine and pharmacy began to become more distinct in the U.S., with both professions issuing stricter standards. And even more new standards were coming, as well, with the creation of the U.S. Pure Food and Drug Administration in 1906. Eventually, pharmacy research began to change, Bradberry points out, and to focus on drug discovery. This advance was made possible with the development of new disciplines in pharmacy such as drug synthesis, drug dosage form research, the study of the time-course of drugs in the body (pharmacokinetics), and the study of animal and human pharmacology leading to modern-day clinical drug trials, he notes.

The development of nanotechnology as Photo by Mike Kleveter a tool in drug dosage form development Dean Chris Bradberry, Pharm.D. ... “the skills of the pharmacist ... are needed now more than ever.” is one of the exciting research focuses in the School of Pharmacy and Health nano-world is, you’d have to chop up a Pharmacy Sciences, is working with the Professions today. meter infinitesimally. A nanometer is U.S. Department of Defense on Here, meet two Creighton one billionth of a meter in size. And that development of novel drug delivery pharmaceutical scientists, whose is exactly why this tiny wisp can slip by systems designed to protect people from research takes them to a world not even your cell’s defenses — and, Destache the effects of radiation exposure at the imagined in 1905! and Dash hope, can, in the process, cellular level and in the treatment of carry therapeutic drugs to their target, breast cancer. *** your cells, as well. Responding to a growing concern Imagine a particle so small that it can “A lot of drugs don’t go where you about bioterrorism, Dash’s research easily slip through the cell walls in your want them to go, unless you give them involves trying to devise a nanoparticle- body (microscopic walls that can detect intravenously,” said Destache, associate delivered shield for the cells’ DNA, the the tiniest bacteria and even many professor of pharmacy and medicine at target of radiation that causes cell viruses). This diminutive particle can Creighton’s School of Pharmacy and destruction. The exact details of his defy the “radar” of your ever-vigilant Health Professions. work are proprietary in nature, but Dash cellular “alarm system,” which has And even IV’s have their limits, he is open about its challenges: targeting evolved to repel invaders. said, as the body has many means of the right compounds through the cells’ Welcome to the nano-world, a universe destroying what it perceives as invaders defenses in order to protect each cell with that operates in our bodies and everywhere traveling along the bloodstream and a radiation “shield” made of chemicals. else in nature at a level of which we are elsewhere with their load of medicines. Destache’s research, meanwhile, focuses not the least bit conscious. Yet, it is just The cell walls are one of the final lines on getting drugs to the brain, using at this level that pharmaceutical of defense in the body’s elaborate safety nanoparticles as the delivery system. scientists like those at Creighton are system against perceived and actual With his interest in Parkinson’s disease, working to bring us new drug therapies. invaders. Nanotechnology offers a way the Creighton professor is looking to Chris Destache, PharmD’84, and Alekha to bypass the cells’ restrictions with a nanotechnology as a means of bypassing Dash, Ph.D., work in a world where targeted drug that goes along on the the brain’s own unique shield. nanoparticles rule. Smaller than the nanoparticle “for a ride.” This blood-brain barrier, he said, has average virus, these particles are measured Work on microparticulate drug long served humanity’s survival, in — you guessed it — nanometers, delivery systems has been a popular keeping what’s circulating in your brain measurements so small that the period area of pharmaceutical research since in the brain — and what’s circulating in at the end of this sentence would appear the mid-‘80s, said Destache and Dash. your body in the body. This barrier to inhabitants of the nano-world as the But today, the area is even more of a hot allows nutrients to cross from the body universe does to us. topic, drawing the Creighton scientists to to the brain, but, hopefully, nothing else, You may remember that a meter is intense research in several exciting areas. especially not harmful microorganisms. equal to a little bit less than one yard. For example, Dash, a professor and Yet, in order to treat certain But to get an idea of how small this interim chair of the Department of neurological disorders, that special

40 Fall 2005 Creighton Centennial Feature: The School of Pharmacy and Health Professions barrier sometimes needs to be crossed. using nanoparticles with the gene for CF This is the challenge of Destache’s work. Did you know? could be transferred to the epithelial cells So, Destache is intent on equipping a • In 2001, Creighton became the in the nose of CF patients. Research results nanoparticle with proteins to slip past first in the nation to offer a web- showed the gene could be transferred.” the brain’s barrier and to go to work on based, entry-level Pharm.D. degree. But, Destache cautions, “this (finding) is the brains of Parkinson’s patients. • For two years in a row, Creighton’s a long way off from injecting “In Parkinson’s disease, cells die for a School of Pharmacy and Health nanoparticles with the CF gene and variety of reasons, mostly inflammation,” Professions has won a Health having it cure cystic fibrosis in patients.” Destache said. “However, there are a few Resources and Services That’s why Destache believes proteins that can ‘protect’ the cells from Administration (HRSA) award for adenovirus (common cold virus) going down that pathway of cellular service to Native Americans on delivery systems pose an interesting death. reservations. Creighton is the only alternative. “My research mainly focuses on: (1) private university that has won this “A better system is to use adenovirus Can I deliver these proteins (they are award. that contains a piece of our DNA and to relatively big, so they do not cross the • The School of Pharmacy and replace a defective gene with a new blood brain barrier)? And (2) can I equip Health Professions has the second gene that the adenovirus brings to the the nanoparticle that crosses into the largest enrollment on the cells. Since the common cold can infect brain with a protein to ‘protect’ the part Creighton campus, coming in all of us, researchers are using of the brain that is involved with just behind the College of Arts & adenovirus to deliver DNA.“ cellular death for Parkinson’s patients?” Sciences, with about 850 students Creighton and similar research centers “Of interest,” Destache explained, “is in 2005. are in the very early stages of nanoparticle that this protein can ‘regenerate’ neurons.” • Creighton’s Physical Therapy pharmacology, said Destache and Dash, The Creighton scientist said this finding doctorate program was ranked but, to them, this is part of the attraction: runs counter to the accepted wisdom: 16th out of 200 in the United The possibilities are indeed limitless for that once neurons die, they are not States by U.S. News & World a bright tomorrow with these and other replaced. Report. new drug therapies. “So, long-term, could giving this • In 1999, Creighton began offering Bradberry couldn’t agree more. “This protein(s) stop the neurological decline of the nation’s first entry-level exciting basic pharmaceutical science Parkinson’s patients or, more importantly, doctorate in Occupational Therapy. work described by Drs. Destache and could it get back some of their neurological Dash is typical of the innovative function that was lost?” Destache is research that scientists in the School are tantalized by this thought. While not has been done.” doing on a daily basis. curing Parkinson’s, Destache sees a Here, too, holding the nanoparticles in “Nanotechnology as applied to drug better outcome possible for Parkinson’s a state of stability is a special challenge, dosage form development and the patients with this new therapy. requiring a great deal of energy and targeting of drugs to specific cells is If you were a visitor to the nano- control, he added. These controls require indeed cutting-edge work. The advances world, what would your experience be just the right selection of formulation in pharmaceutical research have been at the typical patient’s cell-level? parameters for better stability. revolutionary when one looks back over First, you would have to nano-size Also of interest to Creighton and other the past 100 years,” Bradberry said, yourself in order to observe this scientists is the world of gene therapy “and we at Creighton are very proud of quantum world. Secondly, you’d be on using nanotechnology — as well as the our faculty who are on the new frontier the look-out for polylactic glycolic acid use of adenovirus delivery methods. of drug discovery.” (PLGA), the biodegradable substance Suppose a person has cystic fibrosis, “Like the explosion in research,” that might alert you to the presence of a said Destache. “The defective CF gene Bradberry added, “the practice of typical medicine-laden nanoparticle. may be stored in many cells of the body. pharmacy is continually evolving as are Dash says nano-medicines must be So, you need a delivery system that can all other health care professions. able to “haul” their cures in biodegradable target all the locations of these defective “It’s an exciting time to be a “luggage” that dissolves like absorbable genes with a load of corrected genes.” pharmacist. The skills of the pharmacist sutures once their use has expired. Destache said that nanotechnology in drug therapy management are PLGA is just one of those biodegradable delivery of genetic material has only needed now more than ever and this substances extensively used for the recently been looked at as a means of role will continue to expand. The fabrication of nanoparticles. “Build-up getting genes to cells of the body. This provision of health care is a team effort, of even benign materials is a big type of research has been “performed in and pharmacy practice is a major part of challenge and problem,” Dash said, “so cell cultures (in vitro), together with some that effort and the future of health care we wish the nanoparticles to leave no success in mice as well as one human in our nation.” trace of their presence, once their work trial. The human trial determined whether

41 Fall 2005 f there were a prize for the course with the of tenants and migrants, healing the indigent wants only our love and our trust. If we’re most guest speakers, JPS 499, offered for sick, empowering congregations to take action certain of where we’re going and how we’re the first time this past spring, would surely on behalf of the common good, advocating for going to get there, we’ve put God out of I be a contender. The syllabus for this senior more just public policies, and practicing business. seminar, a capstone course for students in corporate responsibility in the community. In Follow your passion, our speakers seemed justice and peace studies, was formed around other words, we heard first-hand about the to say — your compassion, your “cold anger” two basic questions: (1) How do diverse traditional works of mercy in the modes of at the ways things are and your hope for the individuals and organizations work for social modern Catholic social teaching. ways things could be — and God will be with justice? (2) How does an individual discover an Of course, we were inspired by the decades you. For these young men and women, authentic vocation within the many areas of social of struggle represented. But more importantly, imbued with a passion for justice but not justice work? Lacking textbooks on such non- we learned that vocational discernment in the always with a clear sense of what exactly that traditional subjects, I thought, why not ask field of social justice is all about discovering means for them, this was a liberating and Reflections consoling message. Follow Your Passion: Insight from a New Course on Justice and Vocation By Roger Bergman

Vocational discernment in the field of social justice is all about discovering your passion.

outstanding practitioners to speak about their your passion. It’s what draws you into the About the author: own paths to the kinds of work they do? work in the first place, and it’s what keeps you Roger Bergman is the I then arranged to have 20 leaders from the there for the long-haul, when the odds are founding director (since Omaha community from a variety of always against you. 1993) of the Justice & professions, in effect, serve as my co-teachers Our last speaker, the Rev. Larry Gillick, S.J., Peace Studies Program in in the seminar. Financial support was director of Creighton’s Deglman Center for the Creighton College of provided by Cardoner at Creighton, a five- Ignatian Spirituality, really drove that insight Arts & Sciences and a Photo by Mark Romesser year program on vocation funded by the Lilly home. Fr. Gillick asked the students if they longtime member and Bergman Foundation. thought God had a plan for them. When a few former chair of the Social Two by two, in 75-minute sessions, these offered a tentative “Yes,” he simply observed Ministry Commission of the Archdiocese of Omaha. magnanimous souls engaged my idealistic that that would be a very unGod-like thing for seniors in conversation about life in the God to do. “The one thing God won’t do,” trenches — feeding the hungry, clothing the said Fr. Gillick, “is make God obsolete.” If you naked, instructing the inner-city young, think you’ve got a plan, a roadmap to housing the elderly poor, defending the rights happiness, you no longer need God, who

Looking for more spiritual inspiration? Visit Creighton Online Ministries at: www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/online.html.

54 Fall 2005 Football: The Last Word America’s Game By Michael MacCambridge, BA’85

In the great books of history, it will go Football League brought the game into down as little more than a cultural several markets — Kansas City, Oakland, footnote; in the second half of the 20th San Diego, Denver, Buffalo — hungry for century in the United States, pro football’s big-time sports. The “war” between the popularity as a spectator sport grew to two leagues intensified interest in the eclipse that of Major League Baseball. My game throughout the years. And book, America’s Game, was an attempt to television delivered the contest into determine how pro football rose up so America’s living rooms, to dramatic quickly, and usurped baseball’s position so effect. From 1961 to 1972, the number of convincingly. Americans who chose pro football as their What was so striking about the sport’s favorite sport rose from 21 percent to 36 ascent is that, well into the ‘50s, few people percent, the number who named baseball saw it coming. To say that baseball was the as their favorite sport fell from 34 percent top sport in America at the end of World to 21 percent. Baseball’s mistake was a War II is to imply a hierarchy where none fundamental one that is worth existed. Baseball towered above the mentioning here. The leaders of that sporting landscape like a colossus, the game, so accustomed to their position of unquestioned National Pastime, the only pre-eminence, viewed baseball’s position game that mattered. as the national pastime as a birthright, And yet, within the space of a single generation, that all part of the natural order of things. By the time they discovered changed. You could argue that football started its present rise that wasn’t the case, it was too late to do much about it. back in January 1946, at an epic owners’ meeting that set the And today? The game stands alone, as the last of the great stage for all that followed. The combative owners ousted mass entertainments. A recent Harris survey showed that Commissioner Elmer Layden and replaced him with one of their Americans name pro football as their favorite sport by a 2-to-1 own, former Eagles owner Bert Bell, so beginning a legacy of margin over baseball (29 percent to 13 percent). stability in which the NFL has had three commissioners over the America is an increasingly balkanized narrowcast land, with past 59 years. Under Bell, the league’s attendance increased 100 discrete and separate demographic groups. One of the great during every year of the ‘50s. But the outfit was still run promises of the NFL is that for a while each week, many of these modestly, out of a two-room office in suburban Philadelphia. groups come together. Take a 58-year-old white businessman, The league didn’t begin to truly assert itself until 1960, when and a 35-year-old Hispanic housewife and a 17-year-old black the 33-year-old general manager of the Rams, Pete Rozelle, was student. They’re not reading the same magazines. Or listening named the new commissioner on the 23rd ballot, replacing the to the same music. Or watching the same movies. But every late Bell, who’d died the previous October. Sunday afternoon, in cities all across the country — at the Under Rozelle — a lifelong fan and former public relations stadium or in sports bars and living rooms — they’re watching executive — the pace of change quickened. League offices the same game, cheering for the same team, being not just fans moved to New York, and Rozelle pushed through the all- but citizens of a larger community. And when those teams rise important joint TV package (in which all teams shared equally up to victory, it has an impact that’s almost impossible to in television revenue), whose significance grows in stature every quantify. People say it’s just a business. But no one celebrates year. Shortly thereafter, the Jesuit-trained (University of San this way over an annual report. They say it’s just entertainment, Francisco) Rozelle orchestrated the beginning of NFL Films, and but people don’t walk out of the new Star Wars film and take to its incalculable contribution to the game, and NFL Properties. By the streets in jubilation. Football can do that. And that, as much the mid-‘60s, the game was being marketed with a as anything, is what has made it America’s Game. sophistication that sports had never known before. Not as a juvenile afterthought but as an absorbing, complex adult About the author: In addition to America’s Game (Random House, pastime, meriting and rewarding intense and extended scrutiny. 2004), MacCambridge is the author of The Franchise: A History of And the numbers show that the pivotal decade in pro Sports Illustrated Magazine, and the editor of the best-selling football’s ascendance was the 1960s. The upstart American ESPN SportsCentury.

55 Fall 2005 Dick Hauser, S.J. : Creighton’s Jubilarians Finding God in Our Lives

This is part of a in my life more and more. continuing series The spirituality of St. highlighting Creighton Ignatius, the founder of Jesuits who are celebrating the Society of Jesus, 50 years in the Society of focuses on finding God in Jesus in 2005 — the 50th all things — people, daily anniversary of the Wisconsin events, nature, world Province. events, prayer, and, yes, The Rev. Richard Hauser, suffering. Looking back, S.J., joined Creighton in 1972, I realize that, as I have served as chair of the theology grown to recognize and department from 1978-90 and treasure that presence, 1996-99 and has presided at God has moved me to the popular Sunday evening share my insights with candlelight Mass since 1975. others — in preaching, In 2001, the Richard J. teaching and writing. Fr. Hauser, the oldest of six children, holds little brother and eventual Hauser, S.J. Endowed Creighton graduate, Joe Hauser, BS’77, as a Jesuit novice in the 1950s. And I’m convinced now Scholarship Fund was today with his three books: Moving in the Spirit: Becoming a Contemplative in more than ever of what I established, assisting Action, Finding God in Troubled Times and In His Spirit: A Guide to Today’s teach and preach: Don’t be undergraduate students Spirituality. afraid of embracing God’s majoring in theology who seek Will. God’s Will for us is a religious education endorsement or youth ministry certificate. our path — our path to our deepest peace and happiness, as well as to our most effective service of others. *** I’d die a happy man if my calling of theology professor — Richard J. Hauser, S.J. and Jesuit priest would warrant the epitaph: “He helped Professor of Theology us recognize God’s presence in our lives.” Director, Christian Spirituality Program Over the years, I’ve grown to recognize God’s presence Rector, Creighton’s Jesuit Community

www.creighton.edu