Record, Sept 2005.Indd
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September 2005 Volume XVIII Number 1 Freshmen: “Go Forth and Set the World on Fire” DNA Discoverer to The Jesuit flame ignited by Saint Deliver Mullin Lecture Ignatius Loyola almost 500 years ago was Fellow Nobel laureates describe him reignited on Scranton’s campus during as one of the most influential scientists Fall Welcome Weekend, Aug. 27-28. of the century. James D. Watson, Ph.D., During a New Student Assembly who in 1953 together with Francis Crick, held for the freshman class of 955 full- Ph.D., discovered the double helix struc- time students, the Class of 2009 par- ture of DNA, will present the Harry ticipated in a candle-lighting ceremony Mullin, M.D., Memorial Lecture on symbolic of Saint Ignatius’ centuries-old Thursday, Nov. 17, at the University. He directive to students that they “go forth will present “Living with DNA” at 8 p.m. and set the world on fire.” lecture, which is open to the general pub- Holding lighted candles, the incom- lic free of charge. ing freshmen joined in a pledge led by Dr. Watson Vincent Solomeno ’07, Student Body is the only living President, as they were welcomed into member of the the Class of 2009 by Alumni Society team that shared President Kevin J. Lanahan ’84. the 1962 Nobel In his remarks leading up to the Prize in Medicine candle-lighting ceremony, University Cars lined up on the Commons as 955 full-time freshmen arrived on campus for their work on President Rev. Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., during Fall Welcome Weekend, Aug 27-28. Students living in residence halls the DNA discov- acknowledged and thanked hundreds of were assisted with their move-in by upper classmen. ery, which has parents who attended the assembly held mately 80 adult students and more than new degree offerings such as the doctorate been described by in the Byron Recreation Complex. 275 graduate school students. in physical therapy. Nobel laureate Sir “Their education does not begin today. The incoming undergraduate class The freshman class includes 61 chil- Peter Medawar as It began 18 or 19 years ago in your homes James D. “…the greatest was drawn from more than 6,315 appli- dren of University of Scranton alumni. Watson, Ph.D. and out of your hearts,” he said of the cants, which is the largest applicant pool Incoming freshmen represent 14 states, achievement of incoming freshmen and their parents. “The in the University’s history and a 3.1 per- including California, Colorado and science in the twentieth century.”“We are sacred work of teaching that you began so cent increase over the last year’s record of Alabama. Of the incoming, undergradu- delighted to be able to provide university well is now Scranton’s to continue.” 6,126 applicants. The University has seen ate, full-time students, 29 percent are students and the Scranton community the Father Pilarz went on to thank the its undergraduate applicant pool increase from local area high schools. opportunity to meet with Dr. Watson,” Class of 2009 for accepting the Scranton by more than 70 percent since 2000. Undergraduate majors seeing the larg- said Brian Mullin, M.D., the son of Dr. challenge. “Scranton will challenge your Scranton has also seen its graduate est increase this year are accounting, busi- Harry Mullin. “Dr. Watson is one of the certitudes, question your categories and school numbers increase steadily through ness administration and communications. (continued on pg. 2) never allow you to settle for the quick fix or the facile answer,” he said. Father Pilarz expressed a wish for Scranton Continues to Garner National Recognition the incoming students that their year “be rich, robust, full of life and laughter, love U.S. News & World Report tion provided by Scranton’s Among 361 Best Colleges and learning.” has ranked The University of faculty and staff and enjoyed For the fourth consecutive year, the The New Student Assembly was one Scranton among the top 10 by our students continues to University has been named one of the of many Fall Welcome Weekend events, universities in the north, among receive consistent recognition nation’s best institutions for undergradu- which included the traditional move-in the “Great Schools at a Great through our top 10 ranking ate education, according to The Princeton of freshmen assisted by upperclassmen, Price” and among the schools by U.S. News,” said Rev. Scott Review. Mass, a lunch and dinner for students with the best graduation rates in R. Pilarz, S.J., University Scranton has been included among and their families, residence hall and the publication’s 2006 edition President. the elite colleges listed in the Princeton commuter student meetings and “Royal of “America’s Best Colleges.” The University of Review’s “The 361 Best Colleges” released Olympics” on Sunday afternoon. This marks the 12th Scranton falls with in the cat- Aug. 23. Only about 15% of the four- In addition to the 955 full-time consecutive year that the University has egory U.S. News defines as “Universities year colleges in America are in the 2006 freshman students, the University wel- ranked in the top 10 in the Universities- – Master’s.” This category consists of edition of the guide book published by comed about 70 transfer students to the Master’s in the north category. The uni- 572 institutions nationwide that offer a Random House / Princeton Review. undergraduate day colleges, approxi- versity ranked eighth in the 2006 edition. full range of undergraduate and master’s The Princeton Review selects colleges For the second year in a row, the level programs, but offer few, if any, doc- to be profiled based on feedback from University also ranked 12th among toral-level programs. The universities in students, parents and educators, as well as In this Issue Universities-Master’s in the north in the this category are ranked within four geo- through research that involves monitoring listing of “Great Schools at a Great Price,” graphic regions in the nation. The north educational news sources and surveying Fourth Annual Conference which relates academic quality to the cost region is the nation’s most competitive, admissions counselors. on disAbility . pg. 3 of attendance. consisting of 165 schools in 11 states and All schools selected must participate Study Cites Antioxidant Also for the second consecutive year, Washington D.C. in an anonymous student survey. The Benefits of Coffee . pg. 4 Scranton was listed as one of five schools Scranton has consistently been Princeton Review surveyed 110,000 stu- Calendar . pg.7 in the north with the best graduation rate. included in the U.S. News rankings since dents at the 361 colleges in the book. The “We are pleased that the rich experi- the magazine first introduced them in Aquinas Archives Online . pg. 8 Princeton Review is known for its test prep ence in the Catholic and Jesuit tradi- 1983. courses, education services, and books. Page 2 The Scranton Record, September 2005 Biology Professor DNA Discoverer to Deliver Mullin Lecture (continued from pg. 1) The Mullin Lecture Series Receives Gannon Award most sought after speakers in the world, Dr. Watson’s books include his best- Since 1985, the Harry Mullin, George R. Gomez, Ph.D., Assistant and is altogether fitting that he serves as selling account of the DNA discovery, M.D., Memorial Lecture series at The th Professor of Biology, has been presented our speaker this 20 anniversary year.” The Double Helix, and the recently pub- University of Scranton has brought th the Edward Gannon, S.J., Award for Dr. Watson will be the 13 Nobel lished DNA: The Secret Life. some of the world’s most distinguished Teaching for 2005. laureate to speak at the Harry Mullin, A native of Chicago, Ill., Dr. Watson scientists to northeast Pennsylvania, The annual award, established in 1978 M.D., Memorial Lecture series, which entered the University of Chicago at the including 13 Nobel laureates. by the University’s chapter of Alpha Sigma began in 1985 and has brought some of age of 15 and earned a bachelor’s degree 1985 Roscoe O. Brady, M.D. Nu, the national honor society for students the world’s most distinguished scientists in zoology. He earned a Ph.D. in zool- 1986 D. Carleton Gajdusek, M.D., in Jesuit colleges and universities, recognizes to Scranton. ogy from Indiana University. Dr. Watson, D.Sc., L.L.D., D. Hum. outstanding teaching among faculty. Dr. Dr. Watson is the chancellor of the Dr. Creek and Maurice Wilkins, Ph.D., 1987 Samual Broder, M.D. Gomez was voted by the University’s Alpha Watson School of Biological Sciences shared the 1962 Nobel Prize in recogni- 1990 Baruch S. Blumberg, M.D., Sigma Nu honor soci- at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, tion of their discovery of double helix Ph.D., F.R.C.P. ety as the 2005 recipi- N.Y. His distinguished career included structure of DNA. 1991 Alfred G. Knudson Jr., M.D., ent. The award was serving as director and president of the The lecture series honors the late Dr. Ph.D. presented at the Alpha Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, as asso- Harry Mullin, who was born in Olyphant 1992 Gerald M. Edelman, M.D., Ph.D. Sigma Nu annual ciate director and director of the Human and earned his bachelor’s degree from The 1994 Frederick Chapman Robbins, induction ceremony. Genome Project from 1988 to 1992, and University of Scranton, then St. Thomas M.D. “I feel honored as a professor at Harvard University for College, in 1931. He dedicated a lifetime 1994 Martin Sonenberg, M.D., Ph.D.