Historic Gift to Benefit Creighton Students
How to Be a Lent: North African Treasures: Good Consumer The End of the The Season for St. Augustine’s World of Medical News Silver Filling? Transformation Spring 2005 View the magazine online at: SPRING 2005 www.creightonmagazine.org University Magazine
Creighton Receives $50 Million Gift ...... 14 An anonymous donor contributes the largest single gift from a living alumnus in Creighton’s history.
Spiritual Reawakening...... 16 For the past decade, Creighton’s Institute for Priestly Formation has allowed priests and seminarians worldwide to deepen their own spirituality.
Defensive Reading 101: 14 How to Be a Good Consumer of Medical News ...... 18 Coverage of medical news in the media can often seem confusing or contradictory. Creighton’s Robert Heaney, M.D., gives some tips on how to be a more informed consumer of medical news. Lent: The Season for Transformation...... 22 For Christians, Lent can be more than just a season of “giving things up.” It can offer the faithful a chance to reform their lives.
The End of the Silver Filling?...... 28 A new array of dental materials is offering patients more options than ever. Is there still a 22 place for the old, reliable silver filling? North African Treasures: St. Augustine’s World ...... 34 Some 25 years ago, Creighton’s Michael Flecky, S.J., traveled in the footsteps of St. Augustine, photographing ancient ruins in northern Africa. Today, these images represent a treasure trove for Western scholars.
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Letters to the Editor ...... 4 On The Cover University News ...... 6 Pictured are Creighton students (front, from left) Jamie Wewel, Princella Development News ...... 40 Parker, Aisha Lomax; (middle) Brandon Taylor, Jocelyn Frey, Joe Janus, Jon Alumni News...... 42 Aquino; and (back) Tyrone Galbreath. 34 The Last Word ...... 55 Photo by Mike Kleveter.
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
Securing Our Financial Future
This past December, we announced a historic gift to Creighton group of University — a $50 million contribution from a graduate who universities, many wishes to remain anonymous. It’s the largest gift from a living of them much larger alumnus in the school’s 126-year history. than Creighton, to This is truly a transformational gift, one that will allow us to receive that amount vigorously pursue our emerging national leadership among faith- of support. based universities. The donor’s hope is that this gift will encourage Our financial stability others to give. Indeed, we believe it will. also is enhanced through Over the past year, I have elaborated on four of the five strategic consistent student enrollment. objectives outlined in Project 125, our strategic plan. In this column, Our numbers in this area are I will address our fifth objective: Enhancing the overall financial encouraging, too. This past fall, we stability for Creighton University and its schools and colleges. welcomed our second largest freshman class First and foremost, our University is in excellent fiscal health. ever, with 970 students. Our total enrollment this fall hit a record of Your gifts to the University allow Creighton to enhance its 6,723 students. Our new freshmen are bright and energetic, coming reputation as a national leader in teaching and research. to Creighton with an average ACT score of 25.8. They also are more In the last fiscal year, our endowment climbed to a record diverse, with 17 percent being ethnic minorities. We would like to $216 million. That was aided by a healthy 17.4 percent return on see that rise to 21 percent. Attracting an ethnically diverse student our endowment investments. A strong endowment is critical to the population not only enriches the educational experience, but it takes University. It provides us with a permanent source of funds that into account our nation’s changing demographics. By 2015, it’s make the University less reliant upon tuition and clinic income. estimated that 64 percent of America’s student population will be These funds provide for student scholarships, faculty positions, students of color. This requires that we reach out to diverse groups programs, libraries, and faculty and staff development. of students more than ever. It’s a challenge we welcome. We have inaugurated four new endowed chairs over the past Finally, our externally funded research was up $5 million in 2004, four years, including the new Charles F. and Mary C. Heider a 16 percent increase over 2003. These funds are a testament to the Endowed Chair in Cancer Research in November. We now have a important research being conducted by our excellent faculty. total of 24 endowed chairs at Creighton. We will inaugurate another While our financial news is good, we must not rest on this soon, with the McGrath North Mullin & Kratz Endowed Chair in plateau. We must continue to build the University endowment for Business Law. Both the donor and recipient of an endowed chair financial aid, program support and facility maintenance. We must become part of the legacy of Creighton University. Chair holders are increase external funding, both public and private. We must ensure scholars whose talents will leave an indelible mark on their fields, that financial resources are appropriately aligned with our their students and their colleagues. Those who choose to endow a University priorities. We must increase student enrollment and Chair know their names will be linked to quality education and student retention rates. And we must maintain a quality work force, research for generations to come. with a goal of becoming “an employer of choice in the Omaha Along with endowment, our alumni and friends continue to give community.” generously to our Annual Fund. As the single largest source of Thanks to your support, we move forward confident in the unrestricted gifts to the University and its schools and colleges, the University’s promising future. Annual Fund is the foundation of the University’s fundraising programs. Last year, we raised a record $4.6 million in support of our Annual Fund, a 34 percent increase over the previous year. More than $1 million of that was realized through our annual John P. Schlegel, S.J. Phonathon. Again, that was a record and put us among a select University Magazine due to complex geopolitics, but 9/11 pushed the need to change the geopolitics of the Middle East, including Saddam’s removal, to enhance the long-term security of U.S. allies, Publisher: Creighton University; Rev. John P. Schlegel, trading partners and neighboring countries. S.J., President; Lisa Calvert, Vice President for University The British efforts in the Middle East were in Relations. Creighton University Magazine staff: Kim Manning, Assistant Vice President for Marketing and the interest of colonialism; they wanted to Public Relations; Rick Davis, Editor; Sheila Swanson, incorporate Iraq into the British Empire, but
Coffee With The Place of Research Iraq DéJà Vu Cheer Without Fear Esperanza in Poetry Associate Editor; Pamela A. Vaughn, Features Editor. Winter 2004 the United States objected. Editorial Advisers: Cam Enarson, M.D., M.B.A.; Finally, democratic Russia, Christine Wiseman, J.D.; Greg Johnson; Diane Dougherty; Rev. Donald A. Doll, S.J.; Tamara Buffalohead-McGill; democratic Netherlands, democratic and Jayne Schram. Turkey, democratic Greece, democratic Israel, democratic Indonesia, democratic Creighton University Magazine (USPS728-070) is published quarterly in February, May, August and Germany, democratic India and the November by Creighton University, 2500 California Letters democratic Philippines have all been Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178-0001. Periodicals postage attacked by Islamic fundamentalists paid at Omaha, Nebraska, and additional entry points. to inspired by Arab extremists and are Address all mail to Public Relations and Information, asking why there are no Arab Omaha, NE 68178. Postmaster: Send change of address the Editor to Creighton University Magazine, P.O. Box 3266, democracies. Democratic Poland, Omaha, NE 68103-0078. democratic South Korea and democratic Japan, which are strongly allied For more enrollment information, contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office at 1-800-282-5835, with the United States, are asking the same [email protected]. question. Iraqis don’t enjoy military Stark Differences in Iraq occupation, but they would prefer it to the To make a gift to the University, contact the In response to Dr. Calvert’s article “Iraq Development Office at 1-800-334-8794. savages who cut the heads off of innocent Déjà Vu”: While Iraqi history does have areas people. They also know if they are to achieve For the latest on alumni gatherings, contact the Alumni of repetition, such repetition should not be the dream of democracy, the United States is Relations Office at 1-800-CU-ALUMS (800-282-5867) or viewed as sameness. There are stark contrasts check online at www.creighton.edu/alumni. their best friend in that effort. However, if between what Britain did with the fall of the you take a look at the history of the Send letters to the editor to Rick Davis at Ottoman Empire during and after World War democratic countries previously listed, you [email protected]; fax, (402) 280-2549; I, and what the United States is trying to Creighton University, Office of Public Relations, know the fight for democracy and its 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178. accomplish in Iraq today. preservation is not an easy task. To assume First, at least two-thirds of Iraq was Iraqis cannot run a democracy or that any Update your mailing address or send alumni news liberated by the United States more than 10 (births, weddings, promotions, etc.) electronically through Iraqi democracy established is doomed to fail www.creighton.edu/alumni, call 1-800-334-8794 or years ago, shortly after the United States is simply defeatism, if not blatant racism. mail to Development Office, Creighton University, pushed Iraqi forces out of Kuwait. The Andrew L. Sullivan, BA’89 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178. United States and its allies contained Saddam Omaha View the magazine online at Hussein by placing military bases in www.creightonmagazine.org surrounding countries, enforcing sanctions Insightful Article and imposing no-fly zones. With the no-fly “Iraq Déjà Vu” was an incredibly insightful www.creighton.edu zones, two-thirds of Iraq has been free to article. Dr. Calvert’s historical perspective Copyright © 2005 by Creighton University establish democratic procedures and restore was presented in a very factual and freedom. The British did not accomplish this Recycled and Recyclable thoughtful way. I only wish this article had before and never had the capacity to do what been printed before the election; I really hope Printed with Soy Ink the United States forces did and have been it was not purposely held back until after the doing in Iraq. The British did not have the election. I am not happy about the way the Creighton University Magazine’s Purpose full blessings of world opinion that the Catholic Church is taking on Christian Creighton University Magazine, like the University itself, is United States did in imposing such measures. committed to excellence and dedicated to the pursuit of fundamentalism attributes in terms of directly truth in all its forms. The magazine will be comprehensive Those same measures to contain Saddam and indirectly telling practicing Catholics in nature. It will support the University’s mission of Hussein are the very measures that inspired how to vote. “Iraq Déjà Vu” reminded me of education through thoughtful and compelling feature Osama Bin Laden to attack on 9/11. Osama the Catholic Church I admire. articles on a variety of topics. It will feature the brightest, Bin Laden was more than willing to defend Jackie (Gross) Kellogg the most stimulating, the most inspirational thinking that his country of Saudi Arabia from any offense Creighton offers. The magazine also will promote Creighton, and its Jesuit Catholic identity, to a broad public from Saddam Hussein, but when Saudi Editor’s note: Dr. Calvert’s article was and serve as a vital link between the University and its leaders turned him down and embraced U.S. prepared irrespective of the presidential constituents. The magazine will be guided by the core military bases, Osama embraced all out war election. values of Creighton: the inalienable worth of each on the United States. individual, respect for all of God’s creation, a special concern for the poor, and the promotion of justice. Removing Saddam was an idea that was resisted by the United States for many years
4 Spring 2005 Letters to the Editor
Keep Up the Good Work women. I told myself, I don’t want or need Having been educated by Ursulines, As a recent CU graduate (winter 2003), I the power that men have in the religion. That Dominicans, Viatorians and the Jesuits, I had just received my first Creighton University was not what my faith was about. Now I feel a unique experience. Fr. Holbrook will stand Magazine. I am impressed with the depth and by overlooking that injustice, I implied tacit out in my mind and memory as a pinnacle of breadth of material, especially the “Déjà Vu” agreement that permitted far worse injustices, my educational experience. pertaining to Iraq. I am directing our Mercy including the abuse of our most vulnerable, Thomas Kelty, BA’67 Justice people to your website to read this our children. Catholicism is supposed to be Springfield, Ill. article. If this is your “usual” quality, format, about universality and inclusion, not drawing etc., keep up the good work. I definitely look lines in the sand, judging others by political Time to Move Up? forward to the next edition. beliefs, holding one life better than another Creighton has been ranked the No. 1 Sister Camilla Verret, RSM and creating polarity instead of reaching out Midwest comprehensive university many Washington, Mo. to solve the core injustices. times over the years in U.S. News & World The superior general spoke of a Report. Our University now offers many Goodbye to a Good Friend “partnership of equality,” “allowing doctorate-level degrees that are also of high ourselves to be stretched, at times with great I read about the recent death of Creighton quality and it may be time to move to the personal sacrifice.” I, in turn, ask that of the alumna Mary Lu Kelly Crampton, BS’49, in Best National Universities ranking. institutional Church. To overcome its image the Omaha World-Herald and felt compelled to Christopher DeMoss, DDS’95 as misogynistic, homophobic and pedophilic, write. Mary Lu was everybody’s friend (real Phoenix it has to make drastic changes and sacrifices friend); she brought smiles to everyone she regarding its own self-interest, injustice and met. In college, she arranged a barn dance for dehumanization. about 20 couples, in a real barn with real I don’t expect to see the Church make any farmers. Bridge parties, excursions, daily Founders Day major changes on women in the priesthood Mass and one good deed after another were or allowing married clergy anytime soon. But part of her routine. Later in life, she worked Address I have seen individual parishes strip away as a teacher, volunteered at local schools and the pomp, power and elitism inherent in the consoled families in the surgical waiting system by inviting lay people — men and room at St. Joseph Hospital. In 1984, Mary Lu women — to offer interpretations of the was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She Gospel. (Collaborative Ministry allows fought her illness from her home. In 1994, University employees to offer homilies on the President Clinton called her to publicize the Gospel through its website.) Any parish can importance of home care for the chronically invite the same at the Mass. Speaking as one ill. She died Nov. 15 at the age of 77. There who has sat through some pretty demeaning was just nobody like her. She was so loved by and insulting sermons, I’d find it very so many. refreshing to hear a married person talking Marie Tilley McClernan, BSPha’49 about sex, or a woman talk about abortion Colorado Springs, Colo. and birth control, rather than a celibate male. Time for a True Partnership Many a time I have wished for rebuttal time. Couldn’t a time be set aside after the The Jesuit superior general, the Very Rev. ceremony for discussion? Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J., said in his major These seem like small enough gestures to address on Creighton’s campus that we are put into concrete action the advice of the called to a partnership between religious and superior general. Though small, a good faith lay. I could not agree more. The institutional effort holds the potential for a hugely positive Church has been driving people away for step in the process of creating a truly equal decades by its judgmental and elitist contentions partnership. What have we got to lose? Creighton University President regarding women, sex, marriage, birth control Rachel Heaney Dowd, R.N., BSN’81, BA’83 the Rev. John P. Schlegel, S.J., and homosexuality. More recently its ghastly Omaha behavior regarding pedophilic clergy has delivered his annual Founders isolated even the most faithful. In a very real Fond Memories Day address on Feb. 8 in sense, as Dorothy Day said, the Church is the St. John’s Church. cross that Jesus had to bear. of Fr. Holbrook But in another sense, as Archbishop Oscar I write to pass on my fond memories of the Romero came to realize, “the Church is all of Rev. John Holbrook, S.J., who passed away Read his address us.” It is easy to talk about self-interest, this past August. During the year that I lived to the Creighton injustice and dehumanization in the global in Swanson Hall and he was chaplain, he was environment, but harder to see it within always available to the students. Indeed, his community online at: ourselves, i.e., both the institutional and unique “open door” policy would be hard to collective Church. I blame myself for forget. He left his door open day and night www.creightonmagazine.org accepting a Church that showed inequality to and was always there to listen and educate.
5 Spring 2005 University News Dead Man Walking Performed Hixson-Lied Science Building Recognized on Creighton Stage for Outstanding Design When Creighton University Assistant was Sr. Prejean (the role that won Susan Professor of Theatre Alan Klem learned of Sarandon an Oscar). Tiehen’s performance Creighton University’s Hixson-Lied the opportunity to direct the stage adaptation was part of her BFA thesis project. Science Building graced the cover of of Dead Man Walking, he jumped at it. Creighton held several talks and panel American School & University’s November architectural portfolio issue. Tim Robbins — who wrote the screenplay discussions in connection with the play. One The 434-page issue showcases award- and directed the 1996 movie based on the of the stipulations set forth by Robbins was winning and outstanding education book by Sr. Helen Prejean — design and construction. HDR wrote the theatrical script. Architecture, Inc., of Omaha designed According to Klem, the script the building. is a draft version that The $18 Robbins has offered Jesuit million Hixson- high schools and universities Lied Science nationwide the chance to Building was perform. completed in “It was a really strong January of 2003. script,” Klem said. “And I The facility like doing plays that deal houses with tough issues.” undergraduate Although he’s read the
and health book, Klem didn’t want to Photo by Mark Romesser sciences faculty see the movie before Jeanne Tiehen and Rusty Perry … Tiehen played Sr. Helen Prejean offices, directing the Creighton in the Creighton production and Perry assumed the role of the death row inmate, Mathew Poncelet. classrooms, computer rooms and production that opened in student spaces. The new building was late February at the Lied part of Creighton’s $56 million upgrade Education Center for the Arts. that the production includes other academic of its undergraduate and health science “When I found out I had an opportunity disciplines beyond fine arts. Klem, as education facilities. Other components to do this script, I made the choice that I director, also agreed to provide Robbins included the $15 million renovation of wouldn’t see the movie,” Klem said. “I didn’t feedback on the script — what worked and the Rigge Science Building and $23 million in improvements in the Criss II want to be influenced by it.” what didn’t. and III buildings. The movie is based on the story of Sr. “I welcome you as collaborators with me The Hixson-Lied’s dramatic circular Prejean, a compassionate New Orleans nun on this creative endeavor,” Robbins wrote in six-story glass Walter and Suzanne who became the spiritual adviser to an open letter explaining the project. “I will Scott Atrium is highlighted in the Louisiana death row inmate Patrick Sonnier take into account your experiences and publication, noting that “because of the in the early 1980s. Robbins was nominated suggestions as I write the definitive version lower ceiling heights required from for an Oscar as the film’s director. of the play for publication.” adjoining buildings, the six-story “It was a tough play to do because it deals Klem said this was the only production of atrium helps alleviate the ‘compressed’ with a very difficult issue,” Klem said. the play in Nebraska, which has the death feeling of the floors, as does the The play also was difficult for a college- penalty. reflective lighting in common areas age cast not familiar with the prison or legal “It was a real challenge,” Klem said, not surrounding the atrium. The view up systems, Klem said. At Klem’s request, only for the cast but for the audience. “The the six-story glass atrium is inspiring; Creighton’s Vice President for Academic audience watched an execution by lethal the downward view to the atrium’s Affairs Christine Wiseman, who advised a injection (acted out).” terrazzo floor also was designed to death row inmate in Texas, talked with the It was a tough subject to deal with, Klem impress. The grand mosaic is a cast about her experience to give them some admitted. “But it was very interesting … and depiction of an atom, its ‘electrons’ perspective. thought-provoking.” colorful medallions representing all of “The students who accepted the roles did the University’s colleges and schools.” an outstanding job,” Klem said. Rusty Perry assumed the role of the death row inmate, Mathew Poncelet (played by Sean Penn in the movie), and Jeanne Tiehen
6 Spring 2005 University News New Mentorship Program May Bring More Gates Scholars to Creighton This past fall, Creighton University went on the road in an effort to bring Native American scholars who dream of going to college a little closer to their goals. The first Creighton University/Red Cloud High School Immersion-Mentorship Program drew students to several sites in October for how-to sessions on applying for the prestigious Gates Millennium Scholarship. But even more important, the weekend continued the on-going process of familiarizing Creighton faculty and staff with the context of Native culture, establishing key relationships important to the Native community. Photos by Ray Bucko, S.J. The scholarship program, sponsored by Left to right are participants in the Immersion-Mentorship Program: Tom Purcell (Business), Heather Bill and Melinda Gates, offers 1,000 awards Fryer (History), Dusten Crichton (Residence Life), Buberwa Karongo, S.J. (Jesuit scholar), Tracy annually in the U.S. to highly motivated, Leavelle (History), Gary Michels (Chemistry), Kristina DeNeve (Cardoner), Rick Witmer (Political Science), Amy Treonis (Biology), Marlene Wilken (Nursing) and John Thein (Fine and Performing low-income minority scholars. The awards Arts). The photo was taken in front of Holy Rosary Church in Pine Ridge, S.D. fully cover the costs of a college education for each student. Creighton currently enrolls 10 scholars and visited with them about procedures for Zephier, freshman; Angela Bad Heart Bull, and boasts a Gates graduate. the awards program. Then, it was on to the freshman; and Robin Kills The Enemy, Creighton’s Gates Scholarship mentors, Pine Ridge Reservation, where more freshman. led by Tami Buffalohead-McGill, BA’89, and applicants met with the Creighton mentors. Keyonna King, the first Gates Millennium the Rev. Raymond Bucko, S.J., first met with This special Lakota Immersion- Scholar at Creighton, also served as a students at the Holy Rosary Mission in Pine Mentorship program was an excellent two- mentor. King graduated from Creighton Ridge, S.D., on Oct. 18. Here, the Creighton way “window” on Creighton and Lakota in 2004. culture, according to co-organizer Fr. Bucko. The mentorship program, which will The special weekend, he says, “combined continue next year, offers many benefits tours of the Pine Ridge and Rosebud both to Creighton and prospective Gates reservations and dialogue with Lakota scholars. For one, the program is an students currently enrolled at Creighton as excellent way to “familiarize faculty and well as with other Lakota living on the staff with the cultural context of many of reservations.” Creighton’s Native students,” Fr. Bucko Fr. Bucko added that the Creighton said. He added that the inter-cultural student-mentors will continue the dialogue that results is an excellent learning relationship until the students complete opportunity, too. Finally, the new program their college applications. Such support is “contributes to the strength of the Lakota key, Buffalohead-McGill and Fr. Bucko community by mentoring some of their believe, to help ensure the applicants’ students applying to college.” Fr. Bucko Rick Witmer (Political Science) works with a high school student at Oglala Community High success. added that “the Lakota community has School on the Gates Millennium Scholarship. Student-mentors at Creighton, who hold contributed to the strength of Creighton by the Gates Millennium Scholarship, are: entrusting their young scholars to our Donnel Ecoffey, sophomore; Janelle institution.” team — which also included 10 additional Whipple, sophomore; Ari-el Earth, And that adds up to the best of both Creighton faculty from Arts and Sciences, sophomore; Ashley Lone Wolfe, freshman; worlds for Creighton University and the Business Administration and Nursing — Ted Peters, sophomore; Jaime Reese, Native communities. reviewed scholarship forms with applicants sophomore; Blake Tyler, freshman; Marie
7 Spring 2005 University News
Smith, City of Omaha, president of the Federal Bar Association, and he has received the C. Francis Stradford NETV Recognized at Award, the National Bar Association’s Commencement highest honor, in addition to numerous academic awards. At the Dec. 18 Commencement ceremony, In the courtroom and the classroom, he Creighton University presented degrees to has been an outspoken advocate for those 287 students. In addition, the University who cry for justice. A prolific writer, his recognized J. Clay Smith Jr., BA’64, with the books and articles have addressed some of 2004 Alumni Achievement Citation, and the most pressing legal concerns affecting conferred two Presidential Medallions on the poor, including topics such as chronic the city of Omaha and Nebraska alcoholism, public housing, due process, Jack McBride, left, Fr. Schlegel and Mike Fahey Educational Telecommunications. minorities in business, labor laws, affirmative action and employment rights. of the frontier pioneers. Alumni Achievement Citation Today, Omaha provides a rich J. Clay Smith Jr. has spent his life in a Presidential Medallion atmosphere for its 500,000 diverse residents. tireless pursuit of justice. The city of Omaha and Nebraska Forbes Magazine recently named Omaha as A former dean and now professor at Educational Telecommunications each one of the top 15 cities in the nation and Howard University’s School of Law in received Creighton’s Presidential Medallion. Parenting Magazine recently cited Omaha as Washington, D.C., Smith grew up in This award recognizes individuals and one of the top 10 cities in which to raise a Omaha. While a junior at South High organizations that have displayed family. School, he became the first African- excellence in an academic discipline; American elected governor of Nebraska’s distinguished local civic, cultural or Nebraska Educational Cornhusker Boys’ State, an annual program volunteer service; and commitment to the Telecommunications sponsored by the American Legion in which educational and community ideals For 50 years, Nebraska Educational students campaign for office and learn espoused by Creighton University’s mission Telecommunications (NET) has entertained about the governmental process. He statement. Nebraska by inspiring and educating its graduated from Creighton University in audience. With its growing cultural 1964, later earning law degrees from City of Omaha repertoire, it is no wonder that people all Howard University and George Washington In celebration of the city of Omaha’s across the state turn to NET as the standard University Law School in Washington, D.C. 150th anniversary of its founding, Creighton for television and radio programming. University conferred the University’s The roots of Nebraska Public Television Presidential Medallion to honor the past, stem from the initiatives of John “Jack” present and future of the great city of McBride, BA’48. Known as the “one man Omaha. Receiving the medallion was band,” McBride was hired by the Omaha Mayor and 1973 Creighton graduate University of Nebraska with a dream and Mike Fahey. mission to package educational programs The history of Omaha dates to the Gold for commercial stations. Soon after, with Rush of 1849, when travelers on the television still in black and white, NET was Mormon Trail helped dispel the myth that born. Nebraska was “the great American desert.” NET has always been a vibrant source for Travelers found this land ripe for innovative network broadcasting. Programs settlement. Through delegation with the Nebraskans have enjoyed since they were J. Clay Smith Jr. speaks to the crowd at Omaha Indians, the government decreed children, such as “Mister Rogers’ December commencement. the city of Omaha under the Kansas- Neighborhood,” “Sesame Street” and Smith’s distinguished career has taken Nebraska Act. “Reading Rainbow,” still enrich America’s him from the Judge Advocate General’s A few years later, Edward Creighton youth. Furthermore, NET’s unique Corps in the U.S. Army to private practice, moved to Omaha and mapped out the documentaries, such as the “Mark Twain the Federal Communications Commission transcontinental telegraph route linking the Series” and “In Search of the Oregon Trail,” and an appointment by President Jimmy nation’s east and west coasts. Edward, his have attracted local and national attention. Carter to the Equal Employment brother John and their family were integral Through the efforts and dedication of Opportunity Commission. figures in Omaha’s growth. Through their NET’s creative staff, some of whom are He was a member of the Clinton/Gore efforts, Omaha’s mercantile, banking and Creighton graduates, Nebraskans have been presidential transition team and served on health care industries took root. After privileged to enjoy the finest television and the Creighton University Board of Directors Edward’s death, his wife, Mary Lucretia radio programs that both inform them and from 1991 until 1995. He was the first Creighton, honored his longtime dream of touch their heart. African-American lawyer to be elected building a university to educate the children
8 Spring 2005 University News
Seger Receives Grant creation. RHIC drives two intersecting our theoretical understanding of beams of gold ions head on, in a subatomic electromagnetic interactions with from Department of collision. What physicists learn from these nuclei in ways that have not been Energy collisions may help people understand more possible.” about why the physical world works the Seger’s research partner on the grant Janet Seger, Ph.D., professor of way it does, from the smallest particles to is Spencer Klein, Ph.D., who works at physics at Creighton University, has the largest stars. the Lawrence Berkeley National been awarded a three-year $418,000 Seger’s research, however, concentrates Laboratory in California. Creighton grant from the Department of Energy, on when the students, both undergraduate and EPSCoR Program. particles miss, or graduate, have been involved in this The Experimental Program to rather ultra project for the past four to five years. Stimulate Competitive Research peripheral The grant will fund hiring a new post- (EPSCoR) is a joint program of the collisions. doctoral researcher to focus on this National Science Foundation (NSF) and “We are study. It also will provide funds for several U.S. states and territories. The interested in students to work closely with research program promotes the development of what we call collaborators at Lawrence Berkeley the states’ science and technology ultra peripheral National Laboratory and to travel to the resources through partnerships collisions which Brookhaven Laboratory to participate in involving a state’s universities, are not really the the experiments. industry and government, and the focus of the “This project is purely to expand our Photo by Mark Romesser Federal research and development Seger RHIC,” Seger understanding of the world. It is very enterprise. said. “In ultra fundamental physics,” Seger said. The grant will fund work at the peripheral collisions, gold nuclei (which are “Once we begin to understand what Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) traveling at near the speed of light) actually happens, we can think about what can at Brookhaven National Laboratory in miss each other. But because they are be done with the research in terms of New York. This world-class scientific charged, and they come so close to something practical. Overall, the monies research facility began operation in 2000, touching, they have a very strong electrical from this grant will provide excellent following 10 years of development and interaction. The RHIC provides a really research opportunities for Creighton construction. Hundreds of physicists nice facility for studying the effects of students, and the opportunity for from around the world use RHIC to these intense electric fields, because Creighton to build connections with study what the universe may have oftentimes when you are trying to collide these national laboratories in the process looked like in the first few moments of things, you miss. We will be able to probe of doing our work.”
Fitzgibbons Elected Fellow Fitzgibbons received his medical degree November in Florence, Italy. Wilson is to Royal College from Creighton University School of professor and chair of psychiatry and Medicine and is the Harry E. Stuckenhoff professor of anthropology in the School of Robert J. Fitzgibbons Jr., MD’74, professor Endowed Professor of Surgery. In the late Medicine at Creighton University Medical of surgery at Creighton University Medical 1980s, he was instrumental in developing Center. Center, has been elected as an Honorary specific techniques for laparoscopic inguinal As chairman, Wilson will lead WPA efforts Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians herniorrhaphy (LIH) in the average general to promote best practices in psychotherapy and Surgeons of surgeon’s practice. His work has led to two clinical care, education and research, Glasgow. He was important trials dealing with hernia repair. working with constituent national among four other The Royal College of Physicians and associations and medical schools worldwide. distinguished Surgeons of Glasgow was founded in 1599 “I am gratified to have been chosen by surgeons from by Peter Lowe under the auspices of King international colleagues to help with such around the world to George VI. important work in an increasingly receive the award complicated world,” Wilson said. “Since its this past November Wilson Elected to World founding in 1961, the WPA has brought at the annual Psychiatric Association together psychiatrists of different national Glasgow surgical Committee and cultural origins, different schools of Fitzgibbons forum in Glasgow, thought and various areas of interest and of Scotland. He received Daniel R. Wilson, M.D., Ph.D., was named diverging ideological proclivities united in this award for his pioneering work in chairman of the World Psychiatric the pursuit of increased knowledge in the minimally invasive surgery and abdominal Association (WPA) Psychotherapy field and of greater capacity for the care of wall hernia surgery. Committee at the WPA Congress held in mental patients.”
9 Spring 2005 University News
Executive Business support was successful with $32,000 raised. Wewel, who chaired the symposium, When the participants finally convened said discussion topics were set after Symposium Nov. 12, they found themselves in august surveying students and faculty about real- ‘Absolutely Perfect‘ company. The speakers included such world situations and dilemmas likely to luminaries as keynote speaker David arise after they leave the classroom. Jamie Wewel surveyed a ballroom Sokol, chairman and chief executive officer Among the participants delivering filled with well-dressed business leaders of Mid-American Energy; Ronald E. answers was Shawn Ilg, JD’94, an Omaha and confidently declared Creighton Gartlan, BSBA’69, president of Godfather’s businessman and real estate agent, who University’s First Annual Executive Pizza; and Susan M. Jacques, president of urged the students to gain real-world Business Symposium a success. Borsheim’s. Some other participants included experience, especially in the years between It was a fair claim. About 300 Jayme Martin, BSBA’92, Nike’s general earning a bachelor’s and a master’s Creighton students had spent the manager for Global Active Life Footwear; degree. morning of Nov. 12 absorbing advice Greg Johnson, BSBA’89, a co-founder of “Today, an undergraduate degree is seen from almost 30 business luminaries — advice dealing with ethics, personal integrity, leadership, overcoming mistakes and raising others to leadership roles. Wewel, a marketing senior in Creighton’s College of Business Administration, had reason to be pleased. The inaugural symposium was the fruit of 10 months of effort on the part of herself and a team of students who, in February of 2003, were asked by Creighton’s Robert Moorman, Ph.D., to convene a business symposium similar to one sponsored by the University of North Carolina. Moorman, who is director of Creighton’s Anna Tyler Waite Center for Leadership as well as holder of the
Robert B. Daugherty Endowed Chair in Jacobsen Photo by Ford Management, had given his students a Jayme Martin, BSBA’92, general manager of Global Active Life Footwear for Nike, Inc., speaks to huge task, and they knew it. Creighton students about business, passion, risk and motivating oneself to greatness. Josh Coury, a junior who was part of this year’s organizing team and who Coldwater Financial; and Lisa Roskens, by many employers as advanced high will chair the symposium next year, said chief executive officer for America First school,” he said. “One of the most students sacrificed a lot of sleep Companies. important points we can make today is the planning the event. They were greatly Convening the long and impressive list need for real-world experience.” encouraged, he said, by the willingness of participants was perhaps the biggest Other participants discussed the of business leaders to help make it a challenge Wewel and her team of student meaning of leadership and how to deal success. volunteers faced. with failure, which they said is bound to “This year was absolutely perfect. It’s “These are all very busy people,” Wewel intrude on even the most brilliant career. going to be hard to top it,” he said. said. “To get them together at the same “No one is evaluated on making a Coury said the students envisioned time in the same place for a whole morning mistake,” said Gartlan. “No one’s perfect. something much smaller when they and a lunch was a big challenge.” You must ask, ‘How do I learn from this began the planning process, but they But there they were, presiding over mistake? How do I fix it?’” soon found that some big Omaha breakout sessions titled “The Ethical Dilemma: Terry McClain, senior vice president business names — almost all Creighton Being a Person of Principle,” “Leadership and chief financial officer of Valmont graduates themselves — were eager to for Success,” “Breaking that Glass Ceiling: Industries, said ignorance is forgivable, help. He said their support bodes well Women in Business” and “Corporate stupidity less so. for future symposia. Sponsorship Lessons You Don’t Learn From the Books.” “There is a difference,” he said. “You
10 Spring 2005 University News
start not knowing but are willing to learn. two nights a week and closing on Sundays. “It gives the students a chance to ask Stupidity is knowing but not doing. You Duren said it is easier for women to about concepts and questions will not last long in business like that.” merge career and family today than in past concerning the day-to-day business From the discussion about failure decades. The difference, she said, is that world that they are not likely to emerged a discussion about success, and men in positions of power now have encounter in the classroom,” he said. “I the meaning of success. daughters seeking to enter the professions am a graduate of Creighton’s business Nike’s Jayme Martin said he measures who want to balance family and career. college, and I know it would have been success by how often he can raise a That brings the dilemma close to home, she extremely helpful to me to have had an subordinate to a higher level of said, and has made the corporate world event like this. It helps them understand achievement. more sympathetic to women’s needs. reality.” “Watching my team succeed, seeing “Some schools place too little them step up as individuals, to foster that emphasis on real-world experience,” Ilg energy and success, nothing feels better said. “So I commend Creighton for than watching that,” he said. “What pleases me putting on a fantastic symposium that Gartlan, who took the helm at specifically gave real-world guidance Godfather’s Pizza in 1997, said success the most was that that will help those students in the years stems from leadership, and that leadership ahead. involves listening, honesty, fairness and so many students “They will find they will get a lot firmness. more out of their graduate studies when “What I try to do — and I evaluate they have actual work experience.” myself on a constant basis — is listen,” attended and that Moorman said the success of the Gartlan said. “Am I listening to my symposium pleased him but came as no employer, my customers? If you won’t connections were surprise given the students who listen, you won’t grow. volunteered to organize it. “And you have to be honest, with able to be made “Five years from now I expect that yourself and with others. Be firm. Make a our participant panels will be filled with decision. Stick with it. Be fair. Let people between our former students who helped organize know what’s expected and hold them earlier symposiums and will be happy to it.” students and the to take part,” Moorman said. “At that The special challenges facing women point it will become self-sustaining. I were addressed in a session involving business think this is the start of a tradition.” Jacques; Connie Ryan, ARTS’75, president The event culminated with a keynote of Streck Laboratories; Gail Werner- address from Sokol in which the Mid- Robertson, BA’84, JD’88, president and community.” American Energy chief gave practical founder of GWR Companies; and Diane — Robert Moorman, Ph.D. advice on building a business plan but Duren, BSBA’81, vice president and Director, Anna Tyler Waite Center for also launched a spirited defense of general manager of agricultural products Leadership, and Robert B. Daugherty integrity, ethics and personal for Union Pacific. Endowed Chair in Management responsibility in business dealings. The importance of balancing family life “Never compromise your integrity, with business pursuits was quickly raised who you are,” Sokol told the luncheon by students, and the panelists were Werner-Robertson urged the audience of several hundred. “Never unanimous in insisting that it is possible to approximately 100 women who attended allow your excitement or your desire to do both. the session to learn a lesson from their get somewhere to take a back seat to “I don’t miss a family or school event,” male counterparts when it comes to taking ethics. Once people start sliding down, said Jacques, who began her Borsheim’s a risk. it’s a tough climb back up.” career in 1982 as a sales associate and “In general, women do not take risks, Though we live in an age of lawyers appraiser. “You cannot confuse your career and men do,” she said. “That’s a huge and contracts, the old fashioned with your life. If there is a Halloween disadvantage. Go where you are not standard should still apply, Sokol said. party at school, I’m leaving work for an comfortable and take on some risk.” “When you shake hands and give hour.” Reflecting on the symposium after its your word, that should go to the bank.” It is out of concern for family life, completion, Gartlan said the students had Jacques said, that Borsheim’s maintains an “hit a home run” by securing so many unusual policy of remaining open only “heavy hitter” business leaders.
11 Spring 2005 University News
CU Students Cash between Opera Omaha and Creighton All three students were encouraged to University’s Fine & Performing Arts try out by Laureen Pickle, Ph.D., adjunct In on Threepenny Department, the show was staged at instructor in voice at Creighton Creighton’s Lied Education Center for the University. Opportunity Arts. The arrangement also offered “I am so proud of my students all the In 2003, Denise Saylor took that Creighton students a chance to perform time, whether it is in a professional “major step” — leaving her small with and understudy seasoned professional production or a professional quality community of Sabetha, Kan., to follow performers. In addition to Saylor, Cari community or school production. I am her theatrical dreams. always delighted to see them “I’ve always loved grasp a new opportunity,” pretending to be other people, Pickle said. “I think the and I just kept moving in the experience of auditioning is an direction that my high school amazing teacher, and the more acting took me,” Saylor said. experience you can get, the Attracted by Creighton better prepared you are for a University’s academic professional (or any) audition excellence, and the friendly, or show. The Threepenny Opera open atmosphere of the offered these students the University’s Fine & chance to work with a talented Performing Arts Department, and energetic stage director, Saylor saw Omaha as a Dorothy Danner, and with Hal
supportive arts community Photo courtesy of Opera Omaha France, the conductor for Opera with a lot of theatrical The cast of The Threepenny Opera. Creighton students Denise Saylor and Omaha.” opportunity. Jackie Upthagrove are standing on the far left in the back, and Cari Wells As both a chorus member is in the front kneeling on the right. “For a small-town girl like and understudy, Saylor did me with big dreams, I thought Omaha Wells, a sophomore journalism/public double duty by attending both ensemble would be a great place to get experience relations major, and Jackie Upthagrove, a and character practices. in community theater,” Saylor said. sophomore music major, also auditioned for “Being coached in singing by a Now a Creighton sophomore with a the production. professional like Danielle Hermon (who major in theater, music and dance, she “I was the understudy for one of the played Lucy Brown) was fantastic! recently had the experience of her principal characters, Polly Peachum,” Wells Opera Omaha’s leading performers are lifetime — working side by side with said. “For this part, I attended all of her such credentialed professionals,” Saylor professional actors in Opera Omaha’s rehearsals to learn the stage movements for said. “Being a part of The Threepenny production of The Threepenny Opera her part. I also was in the chorus and Opera was a much more serious last fall. performed in two smaller roles in the endeavor artistically than anything I Part of a new and different affiliation production.” had ever been involved with.”
Creighton Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Awards to to Omaha’s homeless. John Langan, Ed.D., and the student The Martin Luther King Jr. Student Martin Luther King Jr. Day founders of Creighton University’s Magis Leadership Awards are given yearly to Creighton University celebrated Martin Medical Clinic. The legacy awards are students who put the ideals of King into Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 17 in the Lied presented to those who have demonstrated a practice. This year, December graduates Education Center for the Arts. commitment to the ideals of social justice Sean Burke and Becky Chabot received The keynote speaker was Joseph L. and civil rights as espoused by King. the award — Burke for his work with White, Ph.D. White is professor emeritus Langan is the past president of the Omaha the Creighton Center for Service and of psychology and psychiatry at the Public Schools Board of Education and dean Justice and Chabot for her involvement University of California, Irvine, where he of the College of Education at the University with the Ignatian Family Teach-In at the spent most of his career. A pioneer in the of Nebraska-Omaha. Creighton students School of the Americas Protest in field of black psychology, White was Angie Adams, Ann Allie, Ajay Balaram, Georgia. instrumental in beginning the modern era Katie Banker, Zulma Barrios, Rick Patch, In addition, the University sponsored of African-American and ethnic Mary Rogers and Dave Rust planned for an elementary school and Creighton psychology. more than a year to create Creighton’s University poster and essay contest. Several awards were presented during student-run Magis Medical Clinic that Winners of the contests were recognized the celebration, including the President’s opened last fall. The clinic provides vital care during the ceremony.
12 Spring 2005 University News
Medical School Appoints Creighton Student to clinical rotation at Lincoln Orthopedic Two Associate Deans Physical Therapy. She also held several Compete for Miss USA part-time jobs — an aerobics instructor Creighton University Medical Center’s Creighton physical therapy student at Gold’s Gym and Creighton’s Kiewit School of Medicine recently appointed Jana Murrell will be among the 51 Fitness Center and an alarm technician Roberta E. Sonnino, M.D., and Barbara J. contestants competing in the Miss USA for the Omaha Housing Authority. She McLaughlin, Ph.D., to associate dean pageant April 11 in Baltimore. The show also has served as a community health positions. will be broadcast live on NBC. advocate at Creighton’s Cardiac Center, Sonnino was named associate dean for Murrell, 23, was crowned Miss attending health fairs and giving talks Academic Faculty Affairs and professor of Nebraska USA 2005 on healthy lifestyles. surgery and pediatrics. In this position, she this past October to Murrell, a graduate is responsible for leadership and earn the right to move of Omaha North High coordination of academic affairs, faculty on to the Miss USA School, came to affairs and faculty development. pageant. Creighton in 2000 as Cam E. Enarson, M.D., School of Murrell is a relative an undergraduate on a Medicine dean and vice president for newcomer to pageants. presidential diversity Health Sciences at Creighton University Her first pageant was scholarship. After Medical Center said, “Dr. Sonnino’s the 2002 Miss Nebraska three years in experience as a surgeon, in faculty and USA pageant (held in Creighton’s exercise student affairs, and her leadership roles in 2001). She finished as science program, academic medicine will greatly benefit the first runner-up. She Murrell began work on Creighton’s School of Medicine.” entered the pageant her doctorate in McLaughlin has been appointed associate again the next year, and physical therapy. She dean for research. She will be responsible was once more the first hopes to use her for providing academic and administrative runner-up. degree to assist with leadership in research and enhancing the She took a year off the rehabilitation of quality of research and research training. before coming back patients who have “We are pleased to have Dr. McLaughlin
this past year and BA’97 Photo by Marlon Wright, suffered brain injuries, join the Creighton University School of again making it to the CU student and Miss Nebraska USA strokes or other Medicine,” Enarson said. “She brings to final pair. Jana Murrell will compete in the neurological disorders. Creighton her broad experience in all “It was nerve- Miss USA pageant on April 11. “I really like that aspects of research … as a scientist, a wracking when it got hands-on, one-on-one policymaker, a teacher and a leader.” down to the final two,” Murrell with a patient,” Murrell said. “To see the admitted. progress, to see someone walk or move Purcell Named Chairman The third time proved a charm, again, is very rewarding.” however. Murrell is now taking a year At school, Murrell kept quiet about of National Tax Committee off from her doctor of physical therapy her pageant experience. “I didn’t tell my Creighton University Accounting and studies to prepare for Miss USA and to classmates,” she said. Several of her Law Professor Thomas J. Purcell III, fulfill her goodwill obligations as Miss friends learned she had won the title BSBA’72, JD’77, has been named chairman Nebraska USA. after reading it in the newspaper. of the Tax Executive Committee of the As Miss Nebraska USA, Murrell has Murrell has thoroughly enjoyed her American Institute of Certified Public already talked at local elementary pageant experiences — from preparing Accountants (AICPA). He is the first schools and made appearances at for the events to meeting with the other educator to lead the committee. community and charity events. contestants to participating in the The AICPA is the national, professional “I try to promote the crown and the traditional swimsuit, evening gown and organization of CPAs, with more than pageant and everything they stand for interview competitions. 340,000 members in business and industry, — helping others, giving of your time to “I like that it gives me a goal, public practice, government and education. benefit others, improving society in something to shoot for,” Murrell said. “I The Tax Executive Committee is the tax some way, doing your part to make the take care of myself a lot more. I always policy and standards setting body of the world a better place and giving feel a lot better when I’m preparing for a AICPA and represents AICPA members on something of yourself,” Murrell said. pageant, because I’m really paying tax matters being considered by Congress, It’s a hectic schedule. But that’s attention to myself, trying to make the IRS, the Department of Treasury and nothing new for Murrell. This past myself the best that I can be. And I like other public groups. semester, Murrell was busy in the the challenge.” classroom and completed a three-week
13 Spring 2005 Historic Gift to Benefit Creighton Students
Creighton University’s A $50 million gift to Creighton the anonymous donor — a Creighton University from an anonymous donor is graduate and a loyal supporter of the ambitious plans for reshaping the campus. The Rev. John P. University. At the donor’s request, the Schlegel, S.J., Creighton president, has gift is to be used for capital improvements. announced that part of the gift will be “The University community is deeply campus development used to construct a “living-learning” grateful for the generosity and loyalty of center for students that will serve as the our alumnus, and the confidence in received a major “front door” and “living room” of the Creighton’s future which this gift campus. represents,” Schlegel said. boost with the The center will creatively integrate “Creighton is committed to being a traditional student services with national leader among faith-based academic support services and leisure, universities,” he added. “In the Jesuit announcement of a classroom/seminar and meeting space. tradition, we are values-centered and It will be located at the current Epsen- student-focused, rooted in service and $50 million gift to Hillmer site at 20th and California dedicated to preparing women and men streets. Demolition is to start this year, for responsible leadership, professional the University this with an opening planned for 2007. distinction and outstanding citizenship.” The center will be entirely funded by William A. Fitzgerald, BSBA’59, outside contributions, including $25 million chairman of Creighton’s Board of past December. from the anonymous gift. Additional gifts Directors, chairman and chief executive will be solicited to address operating costs. officer of Commercial Federal Bank, Fr. Schlegel praised the generosity of praised Fr. Schlegel for leadership that inspired the largest gift in the University’s history. Within the last year, there were only a handful of U.S. institutions of higher learning that received gifts greater than $50 million from living individuals. “People are excited by what is being achieved at Creighton,” Fitzgerald said. “Thanks to the University’s leadership team, the campus has expanded, innovative teaching and learning opportunities have been developed, internationally recognized research has been fostered and the University has earned national recognition for its academic quality. People realize how important this emergence is for the University and for Omaha, and they want to be part of it.” Fr. Schlegel said he believes this gift will spur other gifts to the University.
Photo by Mike Kleveter “At any institution that gets a Fr. Schlegel announces the gift to Creighton vice presidents and deans in December. significant gift like this, it does not go
14 Spring 2005 Dramatic changes to the Creighton campus in recent years have included, pictured from top, the Michael G. Morrison, S.J. Stadium, the new Hixson-Lied Science Building, the Davis Square town homes, and the redesigned campus mall. The $50 million anonymous gift will fund additional capital improvements.
unnoticed by the rest of the alumni and learning environment for students community or the philanthropic and a solid financial foundation. community, local board members, local “We are the most complex institution corporations, local foundations,” Fr. of our size in the country — public or Schlegel said. “Consequently, I think this private — with just under 7,000 students, is seed money. The bar will be raised.” nine colleges and the entire complement Bruce C. Rohde, BSBA’71, JD’73, vice of health science education,” Fr. Schlegel chairman of the Creighton Board and said. “You can’t find that combination in chairman and chief executive officer of a university of this size.” ConAgra Foods, Inc., a Fortune 500 Since coming to the helm, Schlegel company, said the gift is a defining has overseen more than $100 million moment in Creighton’s history. “This in campus improvements, adding gift is unprecedented for Creighton and 15 additional acres in eastward certainly places it on the national expansion, three new buildings and philanthropic map,” he said. major renovations to the science center. “Creighton is proud it has grown up New buildings include the Hixson-Lied with Omaha,” Rohde continued. He Science Building, the Davis Square town pointed to an Omaha World-Herald homes for juniors and seniors and the editorial that praised Creighton’s nationally acclaimed Michael G. campus development and long-term Morrison, S.J. Stadium. In addition, the vision — a vision, the editorial states, California Mall running through the that “should help lift Creighton, as well heart of the campus has been as Omaha, to new heights.” completely re-landscaped to make it Fr. Schlegel said the gift complements more accessible, more attractive and a Creighton’s emerging national leadership more usable space for students. among faith-based universities. The Creighton plans to break ground on its University has a record enrollment. The next set of town homes sometime fall 2004 freshman class was one of the around June near the current Davis largest and brightest ever. In addition, Square complex. Creighton’s strong reputation for academic “I think part of the genesis of this gift excellence in undergraduate, graduate is that the donor is very pleased with and professional programs has helped it the direction in which the institution is rank at or near the top of U.S. News & going,” Fr. Schlegel said. He added, World Report’s ratings of Midwestern “Creighton has a focused, planned and comprehensive universities for the past willed future.” 18 years. This past year, Creighton was In addition to the U.S. News ranking, listed among just 46 universities by U.S. Creighton has been cited as outstanding News for its outstanding undergraduate by other national publications, including research opportunities. Money Magazine, The Princeton Review, “I am very proud of that,” Fr. Schlegel Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and Peterson’s said. “The fact that our undergraduate Best Colleges. Creighton also has earned students get to perform research with national accolades for technological their professors provides those students enhancements and for outstanding with excellent firsthand experience.” community service and faculty Fr. Schlegel, who assumed the achievements. presidency in 2000, unveiled a master “People are responding to the plan, strategic plan last year as the University our vision and our role in the celebrated its 125th anniversary. The community,” Fr. Schlegel said. “We have plan calls for strengthening Creighton’s some historic opportunities before us, national identity, focusing its dedication and we are excited and humbled by the to mission and enhancing academic extraordinary generosity and genuine excellence, as well as providing a diverse commitment donors are making to human community, a dynamic living Creighton’s future.”
X Spring 2005 Spiritual Reawakening Creighton’s Institute for Priestly Formation Celebrates 10th Anniversary By Therese Vaughn-Weiner Between celebrating the Eucharist, the biblical-evangelical spirituality of Creighton University, conducts a hearing confessions, visiting the sick Ignatius Loyola — the founder of the residential summer program for and counseling members of his parish, a Jesuit order — the institute’s programs diocesan seminarians from across the diocesan priest may have a hard time present a spirituality that can inspire, nation and beyond. According to penciling in time for his own personal motivate and thus, sustain the busy Gabuzda, the program begins with an prayer. Spirituality seems as elemental daily lives of contemporary diocesan eight-day silent directed retreat and to the priesthood as lumber is to priests. includes individual spiritual direction, carpentry — the very medium of the It is not surprising that the institute’s communal morning and evening enrollment in its prayer, Mass, apostolic work at local summer program for nursing homes and hospitals and a diocesan seminarians commitment to a daily hour of has burgeoned from contemplative prayer. The course six seminarians in instructors include more than a dozen 1995 to 105 this past religious and lay faculty from across the summer. Participants country, who specialize in a variety of came from 51 dioceses areas from priestly spirituality to in 24 states and pastoral diagnostics. Canada. “We also offer four intensive classes “As their confidence which encompass classroom learning in the program has and personal prayer,” Gabuzda said. grown, bishops have Seminarians explore such topics as been inclined to send personal prayer and public liturgy; larger numbers, some spirituality and sexuality; and the A group of individuals associated with the institute met with the pope sending all of their identity and spirituality of the diocesan in Rome in November, including directors the Rev. John Horn, S.J., (far seminarians in a given priest. left) and Kathy Kanavy and the Rev. Richard Gabuzda (far right). year of study,” said the “This instruction helps equip institute’s director and seminarians with the practical tools for trade. But, for the diocesan priest, the co-founder the Rev. Richard Gabuzda, building spirituality into their daily spiritual life sometimes can get lost S.T.D. A priest of the Diocese of lives,” Gabuzda explained. “It furnishes within the hectic daily round. Scranton, Pa., Gabuzda specializes in a cornerstone or fundamental awareness The Institute for Priestly Formation liturgical and priestly spirituality. for a life as a diocesan priest.” was founded in 1995 to address this The institute’s other co-founders The Rev. Mark Beran, associate pastor critical issue. Celebrating its 10th include assistant directors the Rev. John at Cathedral of St. Cecelia in Omaha, anniversary this year, the program Horn, S.J., and Kathleen Kanavy, both of undertook the program as a seminarian assists in the spiritual formation of whom received their master’s in four years ago. diocesan seminarians and priests in the Christian spirituality at Creighton; and “The experience deepened my sense Roman Catholic Church. Designed to the Rev. George Aschenbrenner, S.J., of how prayer can feed the priesthood. I complement existing seminary S.T.L., who currently serves as rector of continue to integrate the Spiritual programs, the institute responds to the the Jesuit Community at the University Exercises of St. Ignatius into my daily need for a more concentrated and of Scranton. life,” Beran said. “One of the most integrated spiritual formation. Rooted in The institute, in collaboration with amazing aspects (of the institute) was
16 Spring 2005 Spiritual Reawakening the chance to meet seminarians from all undergoing a similar re-direction Saint Ignatius Loyola in a 30-day retreat over the country.” toward increased spirituality in priestly for seminarians, diocesan priests and The program encourages seminarians formation. The institute offers a three- bishops. In Ignatian thought, just as to openly discuss issues once considered week program for seminary spiritual jogging benefits the body, so spiritual taboo — sexuality and celibacy. directors to enrich their understanding exercises strengthen, tone and Gabuzda pointed out that the institute and experience of the spiritual director’s invigorate the connection with God. The stresses the importance of “receiving the art in a way that highlights the retreat inspires participants to become call to a celibate life not as a demand to particularities of the seminary setting. “contemplatives in action,” to love God give up something, but as a call to a life The Rev. Gerald McCarren, the in all things. As the principal of generativity, of fruitfulness. Celibacy seminary spiritual director at methodology of the institute, Ignatian received in this way helps the priest to Immaculate Conception Seminary in spirituality helps priests discern enliven parishes and individuals with South Orange, N.J., said, “The between those inclinations that deepen whom he is called to work.” opportunity to spend time with others the relationship with God and those that According to Gabuzda, the new engaged in this ministry will enrich result in alienation. generation of seminarians is what I do as a seminary teacher and An institute graduate and diocesan characterized by a distinct resilience. spiritual director. I must add that the priest in Des Moines, Iowa, the Rev. “Today’s seminarian is more prepared time has been transformative for me David Fleming said, “As a priest and emotionally mature, sober but not personally.” ordained 10 years, I found the retreat to dispirited,” he said. The institute, like a gym for the soul, be truly life-changing. Amidst the Seminary teachers themselves may be sponsors the full Spiritual Exercises of consuming functionalism of ministry, my interior life of prayer and my relationship with the Lord were being Institute Inspires Ugandan Priests lost. The retreat revealed a depth of God’s profound love for me and Inspired by Creighton’s Institute for God in their war-ravaged daily life. affirmed my life … my being a priest.” Priestly Formation, Catholic diocesan The Rev. Joseph Bukyanayandi of This past November, in celebration priests in Uganda are developing an the Masaka Diocese said, “You come of the institute’s 10th anniversary, 25 analogous program for seminarians to to trust God’s presence in the ordinary institute staff members and friends from incorporate spirituality more deeply movements of your heart. You are Omaha and across the country into their ministry. opened up to see the countless undertook a pilgrimage to Rome. The country, which has a large Catholic surprises from God that we can easily During a general audience with the population, has endured 18 years of miss in everyday experience.” pope, the group had the privilege of civil war that has claimed thousands of Bukyanayandi attended the institute’s being called up around the Holy Father. lives and displaced countless families. seminar for seminary directors in “As we gathered there, I was able to Despite the brutal slaughter, torture, 2003 and is working with three other present to him a bound copy of the rape and abduction of civilians by rebel priests to initiate a spiritual formation proceedings from our three symposia forces, Ugandan priests continue to seek program in Uganda. on the spirituality and identity of the diocesan priest,” Gabuzda said. With the decline of U.S. diocesan priests — from 35,052 in 1985 to 28,967 in 2004 — the institute is serving a papal mandate by helping to revitalize the identity and spirituality of the parish priest. Pope John Paul II, in a recent address to prelates of Dubuque, Kansas City, Omaha and St. Louis, said, “Concern for the future also demands particular attention to seminary training, which needs to instill in students for the priesthood not only an integrated theological vision, but also a commitment to holiness and spiritual wisdom, as well as formation in prudent leadership and selfless dedication to the flock.” From left, Fr. Bukyanayandi, the Rev. John Tombe, the Rev. Hector Businge, the institute’s Fr. Gabuzda and the Rev. Fred Kiwanuka. The Ugandan priests look to start a spiritual formation About the author: Vaughn-Weiner is a program in their home country. freelance writer in Omaha. 17 Spring 2005 Defensive How to Be a Good
By Robert P. Heaney, BS’47, MD’51 John A. Creighton University Professor Last winter there was extensive public media coverage of a study reporting an association between antibiotic usage and breast cancer risk. Among other responses, it stimulated a local newspaper columnist to ponder the tradeoff between clear skin and breast cancer.
Heaney ... “more often than not” associations found in observational studies “turn out to be spurious.” Photo by Mike Kleveter Reading 101: Consumer of Medical News
The columnist had received That approach would seem to be a real; each of the 500 “significant” tetracycline antibiotics for a skin reasonable way to search for the causes findings is just chance association, and disorder and, when put in those terms, of disease. And often it is, so long as the most would disappear if we were to it didn’t sound like a good bargain. results are correctly interpreted and the repeat the study (to be replaced, of Clearly, her reaction was based on the rules followed. But more often than not, course, by 500 other, equally spurious assumption that the connection between the associations found turn out to be associations). In this case the seeming antibiotic usage and breast cancer had spurious. Follow-up studies failing to connections indicate absolutely nothing been securely established, or was at least find a connection almost never make it about disease causation. Now, if in reasonably likely. That, unfortunately, is into the lay press. Often they don’t even addition there are some real, causal probably the wrong conclusion, but one make it into the professional literature. connections, they would likely show up that might be hard to avoid if one doesn’t The issue just drops off the radar screen. as well, but they would be buried in this know how to interpret the results of Here is why a study of the sort welter of red herrings. The procedures such studies. described probably does not really by which inferences are drawn from Studies of the sort reporting this mean what its findings seem to say. such data make such an outcome association between antibiotics and Let’s say we make 100 measurements inevitable. cancer are called “observational studies.” in each member of a group of individuals Why such a large number of false Typically they accumulate a large we call our sample: blood pressure, height leads? Think for a moment: you have number of measurements (observations) and weight, hair color, what the 100 attributes measured in each of your in individuals and then they look for participants typically eat for breakfast, study participants. And you have 100 associations between the measured cola beverage intake, whether their diseases that each member of your factors and a variety of disease outcomes. mothers had a high school education, sample either did or did not get. Each of “Association” means noting that people how often they eat carrots, whether they the 100 diseases can be tested against developing a given disease had greater charcoal-grill their steaks, their blood each of the 100 attributes. That’s 100 X than average exposure to a particular cholesterol concentrations, etc., etc. 100, or 10,000 possible comparisons! factor. When the data are assembled, we record 10,000 chances to get a false connection. what kinds of illness episodes may have So, finding an association in a given occurred in the individuals of our sample study is only the first step in identifying during the period of study. There are, the cause of disease. It is not reason for of course, many hundreds of different us to stop taking tetracycline for acne or diseases to which people succumb, but to change our favorite breakfast cereal. let’s say that we concentrate on only the Such investigations cast a broad net and 100 most common. catch a variety of “fish,” some of which If, in actual reality, there were absolutely turn out to be not just red herrings, but no causal connections between any of old rubber boots or automobile tires. We the variables or disease outcomes we have to sort out what we catch before choose to study, nevertheless, the way we start to digest it. conclusions are drawn from these Investigators have established rules projects makes it inevitable that roughly for dealing with these matters. First, and 500 of the tested associations between a perhaps most obvious and important: Is measured attribute and a disease the observation repeatable? If other outcome would appear to be statistically investigators perform similar studies, significant. And 100 of those would be preferably in a different group of people, what is called “highly significant.” In gathered in a different way, and they this case, none of these “connections” is find the same association between factor
19 Spring 2005 Defensive Reading 101: How to Be a Good Consumer of Medical News A Reporter‘s Perspective By Carol Zuegner, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication
Health and medical news bombards check with other scientists as to where us daily. The chronicle of a local hospital’s the new piece of research fits into the success with a new kind of treatment for overall picture. These reporters include a knee injury is sandwiched between the limitations and the cautions. the weather and the sports on the local But that doesn’t always happen. television news. Two or three short Smaller news organizations don’t have sentences about cholesterol crawl along scientific and medical specialists so the the bottom of the screen on the all-news person who usually writes stories about television network. A nine-paragraph education might be pressed into service. story on Alzheimer’s research nestles Journalists are always pushing between the latest stories of Middle East deadlines. Their stories are only as good tension and Washington debate in the as their sources and their sources don’t local paper. A five-sentence blurb on the call back. They only have 90 seconds to Zuegner ... deadlines and other constraints can benefits of lutein perches in the corner tell the story. They have to sum up a story make reporting complex medical issues difficult. of a busy page in a women’s magazine, in a six-word headline. Their stories have alongside a beauty tip for younger skin to compete for space and time with Even with this journalistic mediating, and instructions on how to decorate a hundreds of other stories. Their 15-inch a good story can inform the public and lampshade. story that caught the nuances and the illuminate medical research, both the The news media present health and qualifiers of this study is cut to seven process and the results. Reporters, editors medical news in a dizzying array of inches. Bye, bye context. and producers should provide an accurate formats and styles. The journalists who Journalists are taught to ask so what, to account of what the researcher was trying write, edit, produce and illustrate those ask why their readers/viewers/listeners to do, how the researcher did it, what stories work under deadline, space and should care. Their editors and their the researcher found and what it means, audience constraints. Those constraints journalistic training compel them to press all in context. It does happen. But in the can be troublesome when writing, editing for specifics. None of this excuses vast array of mass media, it might not and presenting the simplest types of sloppy or inaccurate reporting. Much happen all the time. It’s not, as Dr. Heaney stories. Given the nuances and qualifiers has been written in medical journals points out, necessarily because the of a medical story, especially a story about and in journalism reviews about the journalism is irresponsible. medical research, those constraints can differences between the way science I understand the frustration that Dr. lead to the kind of confusion and frustration works and the way journalism works. Heaney and other scientists must feel at that many media consumers experience. Scientists most often communicate with seeing what they consider less than the Dr. Heaney is right. Journalists should other scientists in their disciplines, with full story in the mass media. Is the ask those four important questions when people who are familiar with scientific solution to NOT publish or air stories reporting a story about associations in a terms and rules. If the articles scientists about preliminary research? I don’t think medical research study. The best reporters wrote for scientific journals could be so. I believe more information is better. do. Their editors and producers understood by everyone, there would not Should the reporters, editors, producers understand the need for qualifiers and be a need for journalists to mediate, to and the researchers be more careful? Yes. nuances and ensure the finished story, translate. The process of simplifying and It is discussions like this that can help whether in a newspaper, a magazine or of creating metaphors that allow the journalists do a better job at placing on a television news program, contains general public to understand often stories in context, that can help scientists those qualifiers. Major news organizations means that the newspaper, television, do a better job in translating their work have medical and science reporters who Internet and magazine story will lose for the public and that can help know the questions to ask, who know to some detail and complexity. consumers demand the best from both.
X and disease Y, then perhaps there is therapy in postmenopausal women “randomized controlled trial” — the something more than random chance at appeared greatly to reduce the risk of study type that alone, of all the various work. Even so, that is still not proof, by coronary heart disease. But because investigative designs available to clinical any means, as an example will show. observational studies can never prove a researchers, can establish causality. The Over the past 15 or so years, many cause and effect relationship, the National result was the now well-known Women’s studies of the sort I have just described Institutes of Health was persuaded to Health Initiative (WHI). And as every had shown that estrogen replacement study the issue, using what is called a reader doubtless knows, now that WHI
20 Spring 2005 Defensive Reading 101: How to Be a Good Consumer of Medical News results have begun to be published, not draw the conclusion that the calcium articles is a major factor in maintaining only were the observational studies supplements were the cause of their position in the spotlight. Most of the wrong, but they had gotten the osteoporosis. As it turns out in this major journals have press offices and association exactly backward. Instead of example, the women started taking most put out press releases for one or protecting against heart disease, calcium because they had osteoporosis, more of the articles in each issue. I am hormone replacement therapy actually not the other way around. called virtually every week by reporters increased heart disease risk. Yet another rule: Is the relationship wanting my reaction to an article that is In such circumstances one almost biologically plausible? Are there animal to be published tomorrow or the next never can know with certainty why the studies or cell biologic studies that show day, asking first if I have seen it. And, of relationship observed was the opposite that the factor concerned produces course, I haven’t — because the reporters of what was really happening, but in harmful or similar effects in various get their issues of the journal a day or two this case most scientists believe it was laboratory investigations? (For example, before the subscribers or the libraries! because women who adhered to an it had been known for years that What can be done? For starters, the estrogen regimen for several years cigarette smoke contained chemicals, wire services and major dailies that have tended to be more health conscious and called carcinogens, that were potent actual journalists covering these stories to be more zealous in their choice of cancer producers in laboratory animals.) should use reporters who understand health-promoting lifestyles and Only when all these conditions are the rules of scientific inference, who know behaviors. The protection seemingly met is it permissible to begin to suspect the four questions I have already listed, conferred by estrogen, scientists speculate, that there may be the presumed causal and who ask them of the scientists was actually due to their other health- connection underlying the observed concerned. One hopes that this would promoting behaviors, and the taking of association. produce both a more complete and a less estrogen was simply a marker for So, what was the score for the study sensationalized account of what was women who exhibited those practices. connecting breast cancer with antibiotic found. It might also dampen the ardor of The behaviors concerned were seldom if usage? 1) The findings have not been the investigators for the media limelight ever measured in the studies that led to replicated. 2) The exposure relationship if they are asked each of these questions the wrong conclusion about estrogen, in is partly correct: risk did increase with on camera, with the microphone open. large part because they often couldn’t exposure (but, oddly, even brief antibiotic But those who read the evening paper even be named, let alone measured. (We use was associated with a large relative or listen to the evening news don’t have rarely know exactly what to look for.) increase in risk). 3) The temporal sequence personal access to that information if the Whether this explanation is correct is is also correct. But 4) the biology is not reporter hasn’t gathered it. At the very not known, but it is a good illustration very plausible. More likely, the usage of least, readers need to understand how of how two things can be connected antibiotics signals a defective immune easily random chance can produce without one causing the other. system, which is what may predispose spurious associations in research and to So, while repeatability is crucial, it to cancer (not the agents we use to treat maintain a healthy skepticism until all the alone is not enough. Some of the other those infections). Supporting this evidence is in. And if the topic concerned rules include: Does the association exhibit interpretation is the finding that the type is of importance to them personally, the expected relationship to exposure — of antibiotic used did not make any perhaps they can take steps to find i.e., more exposure produces more difference, and also the finding — good answers to the questions themselves on disease and less exposure, less? (As is news for our local columnist — that users the Internet. recognized, for example, with smoking of tetracycline for acne did not exhibit In the final analysis, it is not that the and lung cancer) any increase in cancer risk after all. science is unreliable, nor even that the Another is: Does the association So, given these rules, why aren’t they media reporting is irresponsible (though exhibit the correct temporal relationship, regularly followed before going public? I suppose in some cases both may be true). i.e., does the exposure precede the If you talk to the investigators Rather it is that the issues are complex disease? That one seems pretty obvious, individually, or if you listen carefully to and, if the public is to make intelligent but in many studies, particularly those their interviews on television, you will decisions, it will have to get better at that are cross-sectional in character, the notice they are pretty cautious, as well dealing with such complexities. Everyone investigators may have no information they should be. Many of them are simply is familiar in a general way with the about that sequence. For example, if you swept up in a system that battens on Hippocratic oath taken by many new had looked at a sample of older women publicity. Scientists rarely get much physicians. Few are aware of an important today, some of whom had osteoporosis recognition or public adulation from adage expressed by Hippocrates nearly and some had not, and evaluated their one another, and perhaps they are 2,500 years ago: “Experience is deceiving use of calcium supplements, you would seduced by the public spotlight. and judgment difficult.” New research have found that the women with Moreover, the major medical journals capabilities have expanded our experience osteoporosis were using more calcium have become big businesses. They and with it, our chances of being misled. supplements than the women without. depend heavily upon advertising Judgment remains difficult. It surely would not be appropriate to revenue, and media coverage of their
21 Spring 2005 Lent: The Season for Transformation
By Wendy M. Wright, Ph.D. Professor of Theology and John C. Kenefick Chair in the Humanities Was religion a product of a primitive, put it more formally: All religions share When in the 19th pre-scientific attempt to explain the way the goal of tying people back to the world works? Was it the result of a something beyond the surface of life — century scholars given society’s propensity to project a greater reality, which lies beyond or onto a supposed cosmic lawmaker its invisibly infuses the world that we can own laws for the purpose of keeping perceive with our five senses. began studying social order? Could religion’s origins be Attempts to connect with this greater discovered in the oedipal complex of reality take many forms and may religion as a human sons forced to usurp their fathers’ places involve sacred stories or texts, beliefs, in the world? rituals, ethics, designated leadership, phenomenon, they first After countless attempts to explain spiritual practices, cultural components religion by way of some other and historical traditions. occupied themselves explanatory system, such as sociology, All religions respond to the anthropology or psychology, it was fundamental human questions: Where finally concluded that human religious do we come from? Why are we here? with the question of behavior is sui generis. How do we live authentically? How do To be human is to have the we account for evil and suffering? In religion’s origins. propensity to act and to be religious. To addition, there are certain patterns of Lent: The Season for Transformation
readings for the day, the Daily Lenten Patterns Reflections or the Praying Lent site. Editor’s note: The following article is edited Eating. This is not about and excerpted from the “Praying Lent” Mlosing weight. This is about website established by Creighton University’s being more alert. Monks centuries ago Collaborative Ministry Office. This website discovered that fasting — simply not offers a wealth of resources for those looking eating — caused a tremendous boost to more fully experience the season of Lent. in their consciousness. The whole It can be found online at www.creighton.edu/ purpose of fasting was to aid prayer CollaborativeMinistry/Lent. — to make it easier to listen to God “Insanity is defined as doing the same more openly, especially in times of thing over and over again, expecting need. Among Catholics, fasting different results.” This saying, commonly means eating no more than one full used in 12-step programs, reveals a real meal a day and two smaller meals. wisdom. It can be a good reflection as Fasting can be a powerful way to join we examine the choices we will make in greater solidarity with the poor of during this holy Lenten season. It is the earth. very simple. Our Lord is calling us to a Practicing Generosity. “change of heart.” And we know from Almsgiving has always been experience that nothing will change Oan important part of Lent. Art courtesy of Scala/Art Resource, NY Art courtesy of Scala/Art Resource, unless we change our patterns. So, what Generosity is an attitude. It is a sense needs changing? We start to come to that all that I have is a gift — a gift to know that by asking for help. “Lord, be shared. It means that sharing with Above, this 17th century fresco by help me know what needs changing.” others in need is a personal priority. Bernardino Poccetti depicts Christ being Then, we have to listen. Maybe I need to That’s quite different from assessing consoled by the angels after his temptation take more time in my relationship with my needs first, and then giving away by Satan. In Lent, Christians imitate what is left over. Selfless giving joins Christ’s fast in the wilderness. God. Perhaps I rarely, if ever, hear the cry of the poor. Maybe I engage in any us with Jesus, who gave Himself number of self-indulgent habits. completely for us, and brings true joy to Lent. Beginning New Patterns Practicing Penance. Penance Lent is a time to commit ourselves to Mis a remedy, a medicine, a religious behavior that can be being more reflective — more observant spiritual therapy. The Lord always identified, no matter to what religious or more aware of our “automatic” forgives us. We are forgiven without tradition one might belong. behavior. We should pay particular condition. But complete healing takes For example, one might observe attention to our desires: Which ones time and a plan of action. Lent is a people in different traditions traveling need to be purified? Which ones may wonderful time to name the sinful, to sites they perceive to be sacred, need to be abandoned? And which ones unhealthy, self-centered patterns that going on pilgrimage we might call it. need to be acted upon? need changing — as well as the Similarly, religious communities Naming our deepest desires will guide circumstances, attitudes and other recognize that time is not uniform, the choices we make to establish new behaviors that contribute to these that some days or seasons are patterns for Lent. Lent is a wonderful habits — and develop a strategy of especially sacred. These times are time to establish new patterns of praying, action. Lasting healing needs the observed in special ways, with eating, practicing generosity and practice of penance. solemn rituals or colorful customs. practicing penance. Let’s take a brief This is not to suggest that all religions look at each. Putting It All Together are basically the same. On the Praying. This is a great time to Lent is indeed how God draws us contrary, religious traditions offer begin daily prayer, but realistically. I home as individuals. But it is also a quite distinctive visions of the 7can start by simply pausing when I very communal journey. We never fundamental nature of reality and wake up, taking a slow, deep breath and journey alone, no matter how lonely human being. Still, all people do share asking for God’s grace as I take on the we may feel. Let us share with each a common human identity and day. Or I might want to visit Creighton’s other, support each other and pray for embedded in that identity is the Online Ministries website each other on this journey … on this propensity to engage in “religious” (www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/ pilgrimage to Easter joy. activity. And among the most online) and spend time with the significant of religious activities are
23 Spring 2005 Lent: The Season for Transformation
those whose purpose is spiritual seekers have found nourishing. I’m provides an opportunity for moral and reorientation and transformation. speaking here of the observance of spiritual purification. Enmities should seasonal patterns of reorientation and be healed. Thoughts should be cleansed. Seasons of Reorientation transformation. These seasons generally Study and prayer are intensified. and Transformation have a sacrificial character; they involve Almsgiving is increased. The physical As a teacher and scholar of the Christian preparatory fasting before feasting, giving fast is the external counterpart to a spiritual traditions, I am familiar with up and letting go. They are times when deeper reorientation guided by the the oft-heard proclamation, “I am transformation is consciously cultivated. principles of the Qur’an and Islamic law. spiritual but not religious.” Take only the three great Abrahamic The long fast culminates in the joyous The perception, rampant among traditions, Judaism, Christianity and feast of Eid. Spiritual transformation is students in the United States and not Islam — each of these traditions at the heart of Ramadan. unusual among adults, is that religion is prescribes seasonal processes of Judaism too observes an intense all about dogmas, rules and regulations preparation before its great feasts. The season of reorientation that occurs and “going to church,” while processes have at their core the inherent during the seventh month of the Jewish spirituality has to do with sensing the longing for transformation; they aim to religious calendar. Fall is the time when intrinsic sacred quality of reality or with deepen the individual’s and the Jewish community marks the achieving personal serenity. community’s relationship with the beginning of the New Year with the The reasons for the spirituality versus greater reality. celebration of Rosh Hashanah. Following religion divide, much discussed in Islam celebrates an entire season of this are the 10 “Days of Awe” that scholarly circles today, are too complex fasting during the month of Ramadan. culminate in Yom Kippur, the Day of to explore in any depth here. Suffice it to The fast commemorates the revelations Atonement, a solemn day of fasting and say that there is an enormous hunger of the Qur’an to the Prophet religious observance. During these 10 among us today to live more deeply Muhammad. Ramadan is not simply a days each person is encouraged to look and intentionally. We have a collective time for physical fasting, although it is carefully at him- or herself, to reorient yearning for some sort of spiritual most known for the month-long sunup toward G-d and neighbor. Tsuvah, or transformation. to sundown abstinence undertaken by turning, repentance and inner renewal is Without denying that too often we all Muslims beyond puberty from food, the spiritual tone of the season. find scant spiritual nourishment in our drink, sexual intercourse and smoking. Individuals must ask pardon from religious communities, let me suggest The Ramadan fast encourages self- everyone they may have wronged that built into the very structure of discipline. It creates a sense of solidarity during the previous year and, if traditional religions is a transformative with Muslims the world over who make necessary, make restitution for damages. pattern that generations of hungry soul- the same devout sacrifice. It also Congregations also confess communally, ask for forgiveness and pray for reconciliation, asking G-d for blessings in the coming year. A deepened sense of identity as a son or daughter of the covenant is the result of these solemn Days of Awe. Spiritual transformation is at the heart of the Days of Awe. Christian Patterns of Seasonal Transformation So too in the Christian community. Christians, alongside their Muslim and Jewish brothers and sisters, observe seasonal patterns of reorientation. They too have a sacrificial season, a time of preparatory fasting before feasting, when spiritual transformation is consciously cultivated. We have evidence from as early as the 4th century that Christians observed a AP Marinovich Photo/Greg 40-day period of fast and prayer in The observance of seasonal patterns of religious transformation, with their corresponding rituals, is not preparation for the great feast of Easter, unique to Christianity. Above, an Orthodox Jew in Jerusalem recites from a prayer book while holding a chicken over his son’s head during Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Yom Kippur culminates the celebration which proclaims the 10 days of repentance that begin each fall with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The chicken is central mystery of the faith: that Christ used by the faithful as a receptacle for their sins. was raised from the dead and thus
24 Spring 2005 Lent: The Season for Transformation triumphed over sin and death itself. This season, woven into the fabric of Christian consciousness for nearly two millennia, is known in the English- speaking world as Lent. The word, from the Anglo-Saxon, simply means “spring” for spring is the season, at least in the Northern Hemisphere, in which the 40 days occur. In Latin, the liturgical language of Roman Catholicism for centuries, the season was known by the term quadragesima. In French, Italian and Spanish the Latin term became carême, quaresima and cuaresma. All mean the “forty days,” or more literally the “fortieth day.” No matter the language, the season of Lent has been, for the greatest part of the history of the Christian church, the AP Bull Photo/Gregory Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo Sodano, left, smudges ashes in the sign of the cross on the sacred season in which spiritual forehead of Pope John Paul II during an Ash Wednesday Mass last year at the Vatican’s St. Peter’s preparation is undertaken earnestly. Basilica. The ceremony is a ritual sign of one’s own mortality that begins the period of Lent. Traditionally, its most distinctive practice is fasting or, analogously, giving things up. growing grouchy mood in the replace them with new, fresher, more classroom as she held out against intentionally other and God-directed chocolate each year for the duration of behaviors and perceptions. Thus We have evidence the 40 days. The chocolate deprivation forgoing alcohol or dessert or those story may in fact be apocryphal but it expensive Mocha Frappacinos for several from as early as the does illustrate what most people think weeks is only a hint at what Lent might of when they think of Lent: giving look like, and has looked like, for 4th century that something up. Christians over the millennia. The practice of giving something up, Eastern Orthodox Christians still of course, has a deeper meaning. It is for seriously observe the ancient Lenten Christians observed something not simply against. It is not dietary prohibitions against eating meat best understood in the same way as, say, by shifting into an entire different a 40-day period going on a diet. We tend to diet in our culinary mode: chick pea, lentil and culture to slim down and become more vegetable dishes dominate the attractive or because we have been Orthodox Lenten table. They mark the of fast and prayer ordered by our doctor to lower our season as one of fast and abstinence. cholesterol count. These are not And as the last of the 40 days merge in preparation for unworthy goals, but they are not into Holy Week — the week in which primarily about spiritual reorientation Jesus’ last meal with his disciples, his the great feast or making room for God. They are not arrest, crucifixion, burial and about spiritual freedom. If we diet in resurrection are liturgically celebrated order to gain control over compulsive — Orthodox Christians deepen the fast, of Easter ... eating habits that keep us enslaved, we then break it with the great Easter feast. are closer to the spirit of Lent than if we Some Protestant congregations may A Season of Giving Things Up do so in order to fit into last year’s suit. honor the season with simple suppers When my children were in Catholic All spiritual transformation involves and programs directed to draw grade school, they would come home radical change. It does not take place attention to the world’s imbalance of with ideas for what they were going to without some serious restructuring of rich and poor. Sharing of wealth and give up for Lent. the way things are. The patterns of living simply so that others might Chocolate was a favorite choice, and behavior and perception to which we simply live thus becomes the focus of the cost of its elimination was well are habituated do not just fade away by the season. The reorientation urged here known to them because their seventh- themselves by our wishing it. They is toward a social moral vision of the grade teacher was infamous for her must be de-stabilized so that we can Christian life, love of God and neighbor
25 Spring 2005 Lent: The Season for Transformation
When Christians, whether in 4th century Syria or 21st century North America, enter the season of Lent, they do so in the presence of and in union with Jesus the Christ. They enter into the realities that he too underwent. Like him, they are expected to grapple with the habits, dispositions and lures that prevent them from freely responding to the call of God and neighbor. They need to be made more open, more attentive and more generous so that they can genuinely do so. The season of Lent then is one in which they are made ready for what is to come. What is to come is both the
AP Bull Photo/Gregory next phase of their lives and the final Lenten rituals, especially among Hispanic cultures, can be dramatic. Above, residents in Mexico City mystery of life after this life. carry crosses during a Good Friday procession along the city’s streets. Thousands of people watch the The point of any sacrifice, whether it processional, which is meant to cleanse the participants of their sins. is giving up something to which we are attached, giving up our shortsightedness expressed in the redistribution of goods. and battered women’s refuges. and narcissism, sharing our goods or In some regions of the country, What is pointed to in all these devotionally re-enacting the drama of especially those with large Hispanic practices is the process of reorientation redemption is precisely to prepare us to populations, Lenten observance is that is the soul of the season. Giving receive what is greater than our little dramatic and performative. Especially things up, sacrificial actions; these lead present selves. as the season deepens and its nadir on to seeing anew, to spiritual reorientation the Good Friday crucifixion approaches, and transformation. processions of penitents carrying heavy crosses may make their way through Jesus: The Model for What is it city streets or up the roads to pilgrimage Spiritual Transformation sites. The fulfillment of a vow, a The scriptural precedent for this long promise, a debt of gratitude, these are Christian season of preparation is the specifically, this some of the motivations behind the story of Jesus’ temptation in the processions. wilderness as described in the three year, in my own Similarly, but less dramatically synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and perhaps, Roman Catholics of all ethnic Luke. life, that needs backgrounds may engage in devotional Preparatory to his public ministry, practices such as the Stations of the after he had been baptized by John the Cross. Following Jesus on his via crucis, Baptist in the River Jordan and, so the transformation? the way of the cross, through song and narrative goes, his divine Son-ship prayer, usually in the church, devotees affirmed by the descent of the Holy In what ways are brought back to the events of Jesus’ Spirit, Jesus was “driven” out into the last days and become incorporated wilderness. There he was troubled by am I alienated more deeply into the ancient narrative Satan who attempted to deflect him of redemption. It occurs once again, for from the purposes that had brought him them. Stations of the Cross may also be to the banks of the Jordan by luring him from God? done with a contemporary twist. Seeing with visions of power, privilege and the suffering and crucified Jesus in the wealth. The scripture recounts that, Christians prepare and in the process, poor, the oppressed, the battered, the ministered to by angels, he emerged entered year after year, are gradually hungry and the marginalized, modern from the wilderness freed from those transformed. We become ready for the Catholics may play out the ancient via lures and free to proclaim the coming of mission, ready finally for the mystery crucis by processing to and praying at God’s kingdom, the work to which he that is revealed at Easter time. It is as homeless shelters, food pantries, prisons felt called. though, without the preparation, the
26 Spring 2005 Lent: The Season for Transformation feast would be too glorious, too bright to be seen clearly. If we came with our dull, unclean sensibilities, if we came filled to the brim with our narrow preoccupations, our petty complaints, our self-absorbed views, we could not see it, could not grasp what the feast augurs. One final point about the Lenten season of spiritual transformation, especially for those who are celebrating it this year. The season itself is prepared for individual Christians by the larger community of faith. Christian denominations decorate their worship spaces, choose music, hold up AP Photo/Ruth Fremson A Franciscan priest waves incense over an altar at the 13th Station of the Cross inside the Church of the appropriate Scripture passages and Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Many Roman Catholics reflect and pray over the Stations of the Cross designate communal practices to which during Lent. The 14 Stations tell the story of the Passion of Christ. Creighton presents the Stations of all are invited. This provides a rich the Cross online at www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/stations. context for our personal Lenten observance. But it is essential that we each ask ourselves: What is it specifically, this About the Author year, in my own life, that needs Wendy M. Wright, Ph.D., is a spiritual tradition founded by St. Francis transformation? In what ways am I theology professor at Creighton and de Sales (1567-1622) and St. Jane de alienated from God? What are the holds the John C. Kenefick Faculty Chantal (1572-1641). enmities that need to be healed in my Chair in the Humanities. She is the author of several books, own family or with my co-workers? She also teaches regularly in several including Heart Speaks to Heart: The How attentive am I to the needs of those graduate ministerial programs, Salesian Spiritual Tradition around me, especially the poor, the including Creighton’s Christian (Orbis/Darton, Longman, Todd, 2003) stranger, the marginalized? What habits spirituality master’s program and the and Seasons of a Family's Life: Cultivating and addictions keep me from being National Methodist Academy for the Contemplative Spirit at Home (Jossey free? By what lures of power, privilege Spiritual Formation. Bass, 2003). and possession am I tempted? What is it Her expertise falls in the areas of Wright is currently editing the essential works of English Catholic that I need to let go of to genuinely re- history of spirituality, family spirituality, spiritual direction and writer Caryll Houselander (1901-1954) orient myself to the deep longing that I women and spirituality. Her academic for an Orbis Books series on modern know is there: to live fully and freely work has focused on the Salesian spiritual masters. and more intimately with my God? The answers to these questions can only be answered by each individual. To risk transformation, each of us must enter the season courageously, like Jesus venturing into the wilderness, willing to struggle with all that tempts and enslaves us. It is comforting to remember that angels accompanied him. We too are not alone in our spiritual journey. Although we each must struggle in our unique way, we do so together in this Lent season of transformation. Photo by Mark Romesser Wright, in St. John’s Church on campus, explains that through Lent, Christians become “ready … for the mystery that is revealed at Easter time.”
27 Spring 2005 The Photo by Mark Romesser
28 Spring 2005 End of the Silver Filling?
By Mark A. Latta, D.M.D., M.S. Associate Dean for Dental Research and Professor of General Dentistry The Decline of Silver If you’ve visited your dentist recently A nationwide survey of dentists A new array of dental and were told you needed a filling, you by the American Dental Association probably know that you have many showed that the number of materials — many options that weren’t available just a few amalgam restorations (or silver years ago. fillings) placed dropped 28 percent of them tested at No longer is the silver amalgam the from 1990 to 1999, while the only option in the dentist’s armamentarium number of composite restorations Creighton’s for filling cavities. While this silver-gray (or tooth-colored fillings) placed mixture of metals has served for decades jumped nearly 80 percent in that as a standard for replacing diseased same time frame. internationally tooth structure, advances in polymers The use of silver amalgam has (plastics) have made possible filling been steadily decreasing since the acclaimed Center for materials nearly as strong as silver and 1970s, according to the Centers for formulated to match the color of teeth. Disease Control and Prevention, as Oral Health Research Placement of silver fillings requires the quality of composite resins has the dentist to shape the cavity of the improved and the demand by — is offering patients tooth to mechanically “hold” or retain patients for more aesthetic the filling. Sometimes this includes materials has increased. placing grooves or undercuts into more options than ever. otherwise healthy tooth structure. Tooth-colored fillings, termed “composite resin,” are placed using a special dental Will this new crop of adhesive and literally “bonded” to the tooth, often minimizing the amount of materials spell the end tooth that needs to be removed. These more conservative cavity preparations for the old, reliable can lead to lengthening the life of the filling and the tooth itself. While tooth-colored filling materials silver filling? have been available for more than 20 years, the early composite resins lacked Photo courtesy of Dr. Marcos Vargas Marcos Photo courtesy of Dr. strength, leading to fracture. They also A silver filling ... its use by dentists has wore away at a high rate, leading to the declined significantly. At left, Dr. Latta treats a patient at the Creighton frequent replacement of the fillings. School of Dentistry. He is using a newly In addition, the adhesive materials developed LED dental curing device, which emits a special light to harden (or polymerize) did not consistently bond or seal the resin-based, tooth-colored filling materials. fillings and the fillings weren’t retained
29X Spring 2005 The End of the Silver Filling?
The Anatomy of a or new decay formed between the filling service. Silver amalgam may still be a and the tooth. However, 20 years of material of choice in very large fillings Silver Filling developments of dental adhesives and where amalgam can resist biting forces For more than 150 years, dental metal-free, resin-based composite fillings better than composite resin. Also the fillings made from a mixture of silver, have borne fruit, producing materials materials for placing a composite resin mercury and other metals have been that can now rival the long life of metal are more expensive and take more time widely used to treat tooth decay. In fillings. to place successfully. fact, silver amalgam is one of the oldest materials used in oral health care — Creighton a Research Leader predated only by the use of gold. The research program at Creighton’s School of Dentistry has been focused on “No one should 1. evaluating dental materials used in daily dental practice for 20 years. It has featured an emphasis on translating the suffer from oral results of research into improved teaching and clinical practice and, ultimately, better patient care. diseases or The Center for Oral Health Research in the School of Dentistry enjoys a conditions that national and international reputation as a leading research institution in dental can be effectively 2. materials, especially dental adhesives and composite resin fillings. As a result, many large dental corporations seek treated or Creighton faculty input for product development and sponsor-funded prevented.” research at the school. (See box on Page 32.) The research activities in the center — Richard Carmona, closely parallel the clinical orientation of Surgeon General, the school, and the center focuses on United States Public Health Service several key areas. 3. First, the center is used for coordinating laboratory and clinical trials of new dental Silver is Still Safe materials and devices and innovative While in many clinical situations treatment techniques. Over the last composite resin materials are an equally decade, more than 30 clinical studies effective filling material, no one should and more than 100 laboratory avoid a silver filling because of fear investigations have been performed — regarding its safety. including evaluations of new dental Dental amalgam, in widespread use adhesives, metal-free filling materials, for over 150 years, is one of the oldest The steps include: (1) identifying the tooth dental prosthetic materials, dental lasers materials used in oral health care. Its use decay, (2) removing the decay and preparing and dental polymerization devices. extends beyond that of most drugs, and the tooth, and (3) placing the silver filling or Creighton has been a leading academic amalgam and polishing it. is predated in dentistry only by the use center in providing the clinical evidence of gold. Amalgam’s benefits include: that tooth-colored fillings are suitable It is the end result of mixing • It can be used in individuals of alternatives to silver amalgam and in approximately equal parts of elemental all ages; helping to guide dental manufacturers liquid mercury (43 to 54 percent) and an • It is normally less expensive than in improving materials and techniques. alloy powder (57 to 46 percent) composed using composite resins; The School of Dentistry was among the of silver, tin, copper and sometimes • It is durable and performs well in first centers to show that in certain clinical smaller amounts of zinc, palladium or stress-bearing areas and in small to conditions the wear of composite resin indium. moderate sized cavities in the was equal to silver fillings. Creighton While there have been many reports in posterior teeth; and, research also has documented the the press of the potential harmful effects • It serves as a good foundation for effectiveness of the latest generation of of dental amalgam, there is no scientific cast-metal, metal-ceramic and dental adhesives. However, this does basis for any disease or illness that has ceramic restorations. not mean that silver amalgam is been ascribed to this filling material. outdated, nor should it be retired from While it does contain mercury, this
30 Spring 2005 The End of the Silver Filling? Dental Materials Scorecard The following table shows the various factors in selecting a material and treatment for cavities in posterior teeth.
Amalgam (silver) Composites Direct Indirect Ceramics Gold Factors and Composites General Description A mixture of mercury and silver A mixture of submicron glass filler Porcelain, ceramic or glasslike Alloy of gold, copper and other alloy powder that forms a hard and acrylic resin that forms a solid fillings and crowns. metals resulting in a strong, solid metal filling. Self-hardening tooth-colored restoration. Self- or effective filling. at mouth temperature. light-hardening at mouth temperature. Principal Uses Dental fillings and heavily loaded Aesthetic dental fillings and veneers. Inlays, onlays, crowns and aesthetic veneers back tooth restorations. Leakage and Recurrent Leakage is moderate, but recurrent Leakage low when properly bonded Sealing ability depends on materials, The commonly used methods for Decay decay is no more prevalent than to underlying tooth; recurrent underlying tooth structure and placement provide a good seal other materials. decay depends on maintenance of procedure used for placement. against leakage. The incidence of the tooth-material bond. recurrent decay is similar to other restorative procedures. Overall Durability Good to excellent in large load- Good in small to moderate size Brittle material, may fracture under High corrosion resistance prevents bearing restorations. restorations. heavy biting loads. Strength tarnishing; high strength and depends greatly on quality of bond toughness resist fracture and wear. to underlying tooth structure. Cavity Preparation Requires removal of tooth structure Adhesive bonding permits Because strength depends on The relative high strength of metals Considerations for adequate retention and removing less tooth structure. adequate porcelain thickness, it in thin sections requires the least thickness of the filling. requires more aggressive tooth amount of healthy tooth structure reduction during preparation. removal. Clinical Considerations Tolerant to a wide range of clinical Must be placed in a well-controlled These are multiple-step procedures requiring highly accurate clinical and placement conditions, moderately field of operation; very little laboratory processing. Most restorations require multiple appointments tolerant to the presence of moisture tolerance to presence of moisture and laboratory fabrication. during placement. during placement. Resistance to Wear Highly resistant to wear. Resistant, but less so than amalgam Highly resistant to wear, but Resistant to wear and gentle to in larger cavities. porcelain can rapidly wear opposing opposing teeth. teeth if its surface becomes rough. Resistance to Fracture Brittle, subject to chipping on filling Moderate resistance to fracture in Prone to fracture when placed Highly resistant to fracture. edges, but good bulk strength in high-load restorations. under tension or on impact. larger high-load restorations. Biocompatibility Well-tolerated with rare occurrences of allergenic response. Post-Placement Early sensitivity to hot and cold Occurrence of sensitivity highly Sensitivity, if present, is usually not Sensitivity, if present, is usually not Sensitivity possible. dependent on ability to adequately material specific. material specific. bond the restoration to the underlying tooth. Aesthetics Silver or gray metallic color does not Mimics natural tooth color and Color and translucency mimic Metal colors do not mimic natural mimic tooth color. translucency, but can be subject to natural tooth appearance. teeth. staining and discoloration over time. Relative Cost to Patient Generally lower; actual cost of Moderate; actual cost of fillings Higher; requires at least two patient Higher; requires at least two patient fillings depends on size. depends on size and technique. office visits and laboratory services. office visits and laboratory services. Cost Factor 1 2+ 5-7 5-7 Average Number of 1 1 2+ 2+ Visits to Complete
Source: Adapted from a chart by the American Dental Association
A Natural Look At left, these front teeth had older fillings that fractured, and new decay had formed. A composite restoration was placed to give
Photos courtesy of Dr. Jeffery Blank Jeffery Photos courtesy of Dr. the teeth a natural look.
31 Spring 2005 The End of the Silver Filling? Creighton‘s Global Reach The list of companies sponsoring funded research at Creighton’s School of Dentistry includes the largest dental companies in North America, Asia and Europe. They include: • Dentsply International (several divisions in U.S. and Europe) • Ultradent (U.S.) • Ivoclar/Vivadent (Liechtenstein) • 3M/ESPE Dental (U.S. and Germany) • Hereaus Kulzer (Germany) • Kuraray (Japan) • Den-Mat (U.S.) • Premier Dental (U.S.) • BJM Dental (Israel) Photo by Mark Romesser • Shofu (Japan) Recent graduate Andrea (Baalman) Taylor, BA’99, DDS’04, uses a special machine to test the strength of • Discus Dental (U.S.) dental materials. Dental students have an opportunity to assist in research at the school.
particles from their vacuum systems white composite resin materials is that (when they drill out an old silver filling) placement requires a technique that and dispose of these materials using isolates the tooth from water and saliva. certified material handlers to avoid any When moisture control is problematic negative environmental impact. with patients, as is often the case with Composite resin materials, in many young children, amalgam may be the instances, are preferred by dentists and only reasonable treatment material that patients. When aesthetics are of prime can restore the tooth to function. concern and cost is not a significant factor in the treatment planning decisions, Decay is Still Pandemic This is an example of the high degree of wear modern composite resins and adhesives One of the best preventive care (erosion) found with older generation white can produce a long-lasting restoration. success stories in all of health care is the fillings. Notice how it’s fairly easy to distinguish remarkable reduction in dental decay the filling from the tooth. Today’s composite However, despite the progress made in materials are much more durable. composite resin materials, silver amalgam because of dental treatment practices is still considered the most cost-effective and the use of fluoride. material for numerous clinical situations. In 2003, Americans made about 500 element is harmful only in its liquid Silver amalgam, for instance, can be million visits to dentists, and an estimated state — when mercury vapors can be used in individuals of all ages, for fillings $74 billion was spent on dental services. released. In a dental filling, once the Yet many children and adults still go in stress bearing areas and in small to mercury is mixed with the other metal without measures that have been powders and the mixture hardens, the medium-sized cavities in posterior teeth. proven effective in preventing oral mercury is bound into a solid mass and When there is severe destruction of a diseases and reducing costs. cannot release mercury vapors. In the tooth and cost is an overriding factor, For example, more than 100 million dental office, special packaging and preventing treatment with a more Americans still do not have access to instruments minimize the dental team’s expensive indirect restoration like a water that contains enough fluoride to exposure to the liquid mercury until it is crown, a silver filling can significantly protect their teeth, even though the per placed in the cavity and hardened.While extend the life and service of a tooth. capita cost of water fluoridation over a there are environmental concerns from Silver amalgam also is often the preferred person’s lifetime is less than the cost of mercury pollution, the vast majority of material to be placed as a foundation in one dental filling. Dental decay is still a environmental pollution with mercury damaged teeth prior to placing cast metal widespread finding in children and adults comes from power-generating plants. or porcelain-fused-metal crowns and is considered pandemic in children. Even so, dentists collect amalgam scrap and bridges. For children, cavities are a common from placement and waste silver filling One significant challenge for using problem that begins at an early age.
32 Spring 2005 Tooth decay affects nearly a fifth of 2- to 4-year-olds, more than half of 8-year-olds, Dental School Celebrates and more than three-fourths of 17-year- olds. Tooth decay, in fact, is five times 100 Years of Education, Service more prevalent than asthma in children. The Creighton University Hardest hit are low-income children. School of Dentistry is About half of all cavities among low- celebrating its 100th income children go untreated. Untreated anniversary in 2005. cavities may cause pain, dysfunction, The first class was held absence from school, loss of weight and Oct. 2, 1905, at the Creighton poor appearance — problems that can Institute in downtown greatly reduce a child’s capacity to succeed in life. Diet is a major factor in the rise of Omaha. The Institute — dental decay. Acidic carbonated beverages which also housed the with high sugar content significantly School of Law — was increase the risk of dental decay. Given funded by a $140,000 gift the growing need for dental care, from Creighton benefactor especially among economically John A. Creighton. disadvantaged children and families, A 1905 publication the loss of silver amalgam as a cost- described the facility as one The school’s clinic, as it appeared in the early 1900s, was effective option could adversely affect of the finest available, “having described as one of the finest available. the health of millions of Americans. all modern equipment, including Particularly in young children, where facilities for instruction unsurpassed by moisture control might prevent using any college in the west.” Creighton’s faculty members are composite resin, silver amalgam may In 1921, the School of Dentistry innovators, committed to service and represent the best way of treating a moved into its own building on dedicated to their students and their decayed tooth and helping to maintain Creighton’s main campus, at 26th and profession. Creighton’s Lawrence the oral health of the child. California, and remained there for Donahoe, DDS’16, for example, At Creighton’s School of Dentistry, we continually work to research the best and more than 50 years. That structure now performed the first televised dental most cost-effective ways of treating dental serves as the Humanities Building. operation in the United States in the disease, and we educate our students to In 1973, the current 150,000-square- summer of 1948. About 450 educators be aware of traditional and modern foot facility opened at 29th and Webster from 12 states watched the televised approaches to dental care so as to meet the streets. The $10.3 million structure was demonstration of treatment for needs of a wide variety of patients they named for generous Creighton periodontal disease. The late Raymond will see in their professional lives. benefactors Harry N. Boyne, DDS’13, Shaddy, DDS’53, a former dean, MD’32, a Council Bluffs, Iowa, dentist, established dental outreach efforts at About the author: Mark Latta coordinates and his wife, Maude Boyne. The home and abroad. And two current all facets of research at Creighton’s School of Boynes created a major endowment in faculty members — Dr. Kenneth Dentistry. His personal research interests the school for the purchase of state-of- Knowles and Frank Dowd, DDS’69 — include prosthetic dental restorative the-art equipment. The endowment received a prestigious national award materials, adhesives and bonding and dental material clinical trials. Prior to coming to continues to be used today. for teaching excellence from the Omicron Creighton, he was director of research and Over the past 100 years, the School of Kappa Upsilon dental honor society. development for the Trubyte Division of Dentistry has graduated 4,433 dentists, Today, the school continues to Dentsply International, where he who have gone on to serve their provide quality, affordable care to the contributed to or was responsible for more communities and their profession with community and to reach out to the poor than 20 new dental product introductions. distinction. and the marginalized through its clinics He has been awarded numerous research The school’s graduates include and service efforts. In 2003-2004, about grants for evaluating the laboratory and George Blue Spruce Jr., DDS’56, the 20,000 patients, both children and clinical performance of dental materials; has first Native American dentist to hold the adults, received care at one of the nearly given more than 80 lectures in North and rank of assistant U.S. surgeon general; 150 dental chairs in the school’s clinics Central America, Europe, the Middle East Joseph Devine, DDS’52, a past president — with patient visits totaling nearly and Australia; and has published more than of the American Dental Association; 50,000. The school is one of the largest 30 manuscripts and 100 abstracts. and the late Maj. Gen. James Cathroe, Medicaid providers in Nebraska; no one DDS’28, who served as the top-ranking needing immediate care is ever turned dentist for the U.S. Air Force. away.
33 Spring 2005 North African Treasures: St. Augustine’s World
Considered one of the greatest theologians of Western Christianity, St. Augustine of Hippo (inset) attended secondary school in the Roman city of Madaura in North Africa (present-day M’Daourouch, Algeria; see map on opposite page). Fr. Flecky’s photographs of the ruins of this ancient city (background) and others in North Africa provide a unique, stunning window on the world of St. Augustine. Photos by Michael Flecky, S.J. Photos by Michael Flecky,
34 Spring 2005 North African Treasures: St. Augustine’s World
Pamela Adams Vaughn and, back in 1980, Fr. Davis needed a Augustine lay dying in the besieged city Features Editor photographer — and a driver. of Hippo, the Vandals. Fortunately, Fr. Flecky was more than Conquerors had long been covetous adept at both. of the region, with its fertile soil and It all started out in Fr. Flecky’s photos open up that climate much like that of Northern world — and take us back some 1,500 California, a climate that easily yielded 1980 as a journey to years. We join Augustine, Bishop of grapes for wine, grain and olives for its North Africa, as he crisscrossed this often distant ruling states. “If (ancient) outpost of Roman authority — the Rome had missed either of its two photograph along fertile “breadbasket” of ancient Rome. annual shipments of grain” from the Here, 4th century Roman legions were region, says Creighton theologian the America’s historic only the latest in a series of civilizations Rev. William Harmless, S.J., “it would that had long swept the wide valleys of have starved.” Appalachian Trail. this fertile land; before them had come Luckily for scholars, too, the climate the great kingdoms of Phoenicia and has been easy on antiquities, Fr. Flecky But it ended quite Carthage — and after them, as says, without the freezing and thawing differently — in fact, halfway around the globe and among the ruins of the ancient world!
Lucky for us … and for scholars, particularly those in the Western Hemisphere. For what Creighton fine arts professer the Rev. Michael Flecky, S.J., brought home in the 1980s was a
glimpse of a treasure trove behind doors Photo by Don Doll, S.J. that were closing on the West. His Fr. Flecky in his Creighton studio, surrounded by slides and exhibition prints. camera took in what scholars’ eyes today cannot: what remains of the 5th St. Augustine’s travels crisscrossed Roman North Africa. He was born in 354 in the Roman community century world of St. Augustine of of Tagaste (present-day Souk Ahras, Algeria) near the African coast; studied in Carthage; and was Hippo (354-430) — and all the ghostly bishop of Hippo in Roman Africa for 35 years. Tyrrhenian Sea G layers of antiquity that share that G1 Hippo G1 2 G •Annaba # tableau in stone. 2 Carthage # Tunis G3 Tagaste/Souk Ahras Algers G3 G4 Fr. Flecky had packed all of his gear G4 Dougga G G5 to begin his MFA thesis in the eastern 5 Madaura/M’Daourouch G G6 Thamugadi/Timgad 6 U.S. But a call from a Jesuit scholar of (Names of ancient Roman cities are in red.) church history, the Rev. L. Don Davis, changed all that. TUNISIA The Augustinian scholar had made a MOROCCO MIDDLE meticulous itinerary of quite a different EAST kind of trail — one that wound its way from sites in Italy to those in Tunisia and Algeria. To his volume of essays, AFRICA that would present St. Augustine’s ALGERIA historical texts and commentary, were to be added photographs of what LIBYA remained of Augustine’s world — North African Treasures: St. Augustine’s World
A temple still stands against the skyline in the ancient city of Dougga (see map on Page 35) in the mountains above the Mejerda River in northern Tunisia. Augustine frequently traveled near Dougga on his way to Carthage.
Fr. Flecky’s camera reveals all that remains of the Christian Basilica of Hippo, the episcopal see of Augustine from 395-430. Not far from present-day Annaba in Algeria, Hippo was probably first settled by Carthaginians in the 4th century B.C.E.
36 Spring 2005 North African Treasures: St. Augustine’s World
This theater in Dougga might have come under verbal attack from Augustine, who, Fr. Flecky says, would have railed against the licentiousness of contemporary theatrics. that can tumble even great temples. research centers on St. Augustine, one of Education Center for the Arts. Born in what is present-day Algeria, the greatest achievements of 20th For the Creighton fine arts professor, St. Augustine was familiar with this century church scholarship has been to the journey to make the photos was outpost of Rome. He preached the place this giant of the church — almost as interesting as the photos Gospel across his native North Africa, “arguably the greatest theologian of themselves. supervised the building of its churches, Western Christianity — back into his Fr. Flecky exposed the original 75 rolls and would become perhaps the single world, in North Africa.” in 1980 in black and white, plus an most important theologian in Western Fr. Flecky’s photographs help to do additional 14 rolls in color. He returned Christianity. Before his conversion, just this, Fr. Harmless says. Walking to the project in 1983 to expose 29 more Augustine served as orator for Milan — with Fr. Flecky in Augustine’s footsteps, color rolls. then the emperor’s residence. There, he we see where the great thinker helped Back then Fr. Flecky’s chief worry was met Milan’s learned bishop, St. shape the early church, its sacraments to guard the exposed film. “I didn’t dare Ambrose, whose sermons sparked and literature. risk it,” he remembers, to the vagaries of Augustine’s dramatic conversion. His The photos shown here represent airport X-rays, “so I developed the black writings, among them, Confessions, City only some of the photographic gems and white film in my hotel rooms, of God, and the Trinity, and his sermons from Fr. Flecky’s journey. More are set to mixing the chemicals in the bathtub.” are extensively studied today. And, go on exhibit this spring, from March 16 He even carried around the chemicals according to Fr. Harmless, whose through April 10, at Creighton’s Lied with his luggage, in plastic milk jugs.
37 Spring 2005 North African Treasures: St. Augustine’s World
Here lies the ancient city of Thamugadi (present-day Timgad; see map on Page 35), the location of a Roman military garrison. The site was also a “holy city of Donatism,” Fr. Flecky says, and see of Donatist bishops during the doctrinal controversies of 361-404. The Donatists sought to exclude from Christianity those who hadn’t met certain standards in past behavior. But Augustine argued, according to church theologian James J. O’Donnell, that “the church had room within itself for sinners as well as saints, for the imperfections of those in whom God’s grace was still working as well as for the holiness of the blessed.”
The color slide film was another matter, landscape, but are not as carefully kept Augustinian scholar, says the Flecky which Fr. Flecky sent off to Paris. up as in the past, Fr. Flecky said. Gone is portfolio provides “excellent images of But Fr. Flecky’s work in the ‘80s the day when European scholars had places which were very important in the among the St. Augustine ruins was easy access to excavate and restore the development of Christianity in North played out against a backdrop of ruins — a luxury that no longer exists. Africa but which are accessible to political turmoil; soon access to Algeria But there’s a fortuitous twist here. American scholars in no other way.” closed, and the Jesuit photographer Because Fr. Davis’ book remained Represented are “sites which every came home. unpublished, Fr. Flecky’s photos Augustinian scholar now knows only as “I tried to finish the project three endured the same fate. Until now. names because they cannot be visited.” years later, and the situation had become Augustinian scholars throughout the The photographs, he adds, help us to very, very precarious. Westerners had to world are beginning to glimpse Fr. Flecky’s understand the world in which be very low-key. I identified myself on window on St. Augustine. These are Augustine and his colleagues lived. my passport application as a professor, possibly the most contemporary color not as a priest.” photos of these ruins available today in Years of war and neglect have also the West, scholars believe. made the area a dangerous place for the J. Patout Burns, Edward A. Malloy ruins. Great temples, theatres and Professor of Catholic Studies at garrisons of ancient Rome dot the Vanderbilt University and an
38 Spring 2005 North African Treasures: St. Augustine’s World
Top right, a view of the Roman baths of Carthage, fronting on the sea. This center of ancient Punic and Phoenician cultures and fortified Roman seaport, lies today near contemporary Tunis.
Middle right, the sanctuary of the Christian Basilica of Hippo, episcopal see of Augustine, shows the seat at the center where Bishop Augustine would have presided.
Right, this mosaic-tiled baptistry in the basilica of ancient Thamugadi is outstanding in its clear detail. “The rite of baptism,” writes Peter Brown in Augustine of Hippo: A Biography, “was thought of as a drastic purification: with the bishop’s ‘spell’, Christ, the ‘Great Fish’, slipped into the water of the baptismal pond,” an image one can still see deep in the tiles today.
39 Spring 2005 Development News
Heiders‘ $2 Million The Charles F. and Mary C. Heider helping this University enables us to change Endowed Chair in Cancer Research is the the world in many ways we could not do Gift Establishes 24th endowed chair for Creighton alone.” University and the second endowed chair Henry T. Lynch, M.D., pioneer researcher Endowed Chair in established by the Heiders. The first, the and world-recognized expert in hereditary Cancer Research Charles and Mary Heider Endowed Jesuit cancer, was installed as the first holder of Faculty Chair, was inaugurated in 1994 and the Charles F. and Mary C. Heider Recognizing that cancer touches the lives supports the work of renowned Endowed Chair in Cancer Research on Nov. of all Americans, and that supporting photojournalist the Rev. Don A. Doll, S.J. 10. An oncologist and professor of research offers hope for a cure, Charles, preventive medicine, he previously held BSC’49, and Mary Heider have made a the Dr. Harold J. Bonnstetter Endowed $2 million gift to establish the Charles F. Chair in Preventive Medicine in the and Mary C. Heider Endowed Chair in School of Medicine. Cancer Research in the School of Medicine. Lynch’s research in hereditary cancer “Creighton University owes a profound has earned worldwide recognition, respect debt of gratitude to two of its most loyal and numerous awards. He joined the and generous supporters, Charles and Creighton University School of Medicine Mary Heider,” said the Rev. John P. faculty in 1967, was named professor of Schlegel, S.J., president of Creighton medicine in 1970 and has chaired the University. “We are committed to making Department of Preventive Medicine since Creighton University a national leader 1968. In 1995, he established Creighton’s among faith-based universities by Hereditary Cancer Prevention Clinic, an fostering a highly distinguished, Photo by Mark Romesser interdisciplinary clinic that assists families flourishing community of teacher-scholars Dr. Henry Lynch delivers his address at the Heider Chair to find information and services related to inaugural on Nov. 10. and students actively engaged in learning, all hereditary cancers. Through his efforts, research, patient care and service. Endowed “Mary and I have a strong belief in Jesuit numerous genetic cancer centers have been chairs are one way of fulfilling this mission. education. That belief has grown even established around the world. We thank the Heiders for their leadership, stronger over the years,” Charles Heider In 1967, cancer was thought to be their generosity and most of all their faith said. “We believe the world needs people triggered almost solely by environmental and their willingness to join with us in our who have the attributes a Jesuit education causes. Lynch, however, began following a mission.” fosters. What Mary and I have found is that different lead — the possible genetic link to certain cancer types. His painstaking recordkeeping and compilations of family Charles F. Heider and Mary Claire McBride Heider medical history data led him to identify cancer syndromes and their patterns of Charles and Mary Heider are dedicated supporters of the over 450-year-old Jesuit inheritance through generations of tradition of quality education that prepares men and women to be competent, caring extended families. His identification of the and conscientious citizens of the world. Lynch Syndrome in colon cancer now A 1949 graduate of the College of Business Administration, Charles served on makes it possible to predict with nearly 90 Creighton’s Board of Directors for 17 years. He percent accuracy the risk of the disease in volunteered in four major campaigns and helped patients with direct germ-line mutations. guide the Health Future Foundation. Charles is a With early detection, Lynch Syndrome and former president of Chiles, Heider & Company other colon cancers are curable in 90 percent and now is a general partner of Heider-Weitz of patients. Partnership and president of the Charles Heider “Dr. Lynch’s research is of particular Company, a private investment firm. interest to us, because, like most people, our Mary attended Duchesne College in Omaha. family has had to deal with this disease,” Their belief in the Jesuit tradition of service to Charles Heider said. “We believe that if
Photo by Don Doll, S.J. the community is reflected in the couple’s service cancer in its many complexities is ever to be Charles and Mary Heider on the boards of directors of numerous Omaha conquered, it will be by dedicated educational, youth, civic and health care organizations. Their philanthropic leadership researchers who, as the Jesuits demand, ‘ask has helped raise millions of dollars for projects benefiting Nebraska citizens. the right questions.’” In 1994, the Heiders established the Charles and Mary Heider Endowed Jesuit Faculty The Heiders are hopeful that their Chair at Creighton University. They have funded scholarships, supported Creighton’s support will enable Lynch and his team to athletic programs and helped renovate residence halls, one of which is named after continue research that will help the entire them. In 2002, the couple received the first Ignatian Leadership Award from the Jesuit medical field to better diagnose and treat Council of Omaha. cancer in its many forms.
40 Spring 2005 Development News
Richard Heider Family mountain,” Susan Coleman said in the article. the Rev. John P. Schlegel, S.J. “We are pleased “I think nothing made him happier than to have their names remembered on campus also Committed to Jesuit skiing with his children and grandchildren.” in the new Hixson-Lied Science Building. We Higher Education Because the Heiders believed that young now thank their family for all that Dick and men and women deserve the opportunity to Marguerite have done for Creighton Richard “Dick” Heider, BSC’47, JD’48, benefit from a Creighton education, they University and its students.” loved life. He loved skiing, biking, hiking, established the Richard J. and Marguerite The remainder of the gift was added to the fishing and playing tennis. But most of all he Heider Endowed Scholarship Fund with a Richard J. and Marguerite Heider Endowed loved his family and enjoyed partaking in $50,000 gift in 1996 as part of the Creighton Scholarship Fund. Initially, the scholarship these activities with them. After battling with 2000 Campaign. provided funds for students from Carroll a reoccurrence of non-Hodgkins lymphoma County, Iowa. However, to broaden the reach in the fall of 2003, Dick Heider succumbed to of the scholarship, students from Colorado the disease on April 28, 2004. are now included, as well. Dick was born July 7, 1924, in Carroll, “My parents’ family foundation annually Iowa. After graduating from Creighton supports the Boys Hope Girls Hope home in University, Dick moved to the Rocky Denver,” Coleman said. “Some of these kids Mountain region where he worked in the have shown an interest in attending petroleum industry from 1948 to 1983. In the Creighton. So we decided to broaden the 1970s, he spent much of his time traveling scope of the scholarship fund to help students overseas and negotiating drilling deals and from Colorado as well as Carroll County, joint ventures. He and his late wife, Richard Heider, left, with his brother Charles Iowa. My father enjoyed hearing from the Marguerite Wallace, married in 1950. They Heider at December 2003 Commencement. Creighton students who had received the lived and raised three children in the Denver scholarship. He often commented on his area: Anne (deceased), Susan Coleman and In 1995, the Heiders established a admiration for the Jesuits and the education Beth Scannell. charitable remainder trust with Creighton he received from Creighton.” According to the Summit Daily News, University as the beneficiary. Part of the Thanks to the generosity of the Dick Dick’s friends and family gathered on Dec. 5 $350,000 gift recently funded the Richard J. & Heider family, undergraduate students with in Breckenridge, Colo., to celebrate his life the Marguerite W. Heider Lecture Hall in the financial need from Iowa and Colorado will way he would have most wanted: by telling Hixson-Lied Science Building. be eligible to receive financial support during stories and skiing. “The Heiders were strongly committed to their Creighton education. “He would just effortlessly float down the Jesuit education,” said Creighton President
What is Your Legacy? state in which you reside at your death will perpetual endowment for scholarships, enforce its own plan for the distribution of programs or faculty support. By Steve Scholer, JD’79 your estate. An investment of time to I invite you to consider the question, Director of Estate & Trust Services carefully evaluate your current needs and “What is your legacy?” and join those who While the story has been told many times financial situation, along with your future have provided for the future of Creighton and is even inscribed on the walls of the goals, is the first step to prevent this and to University by including a charitable bequest University’s oldest building, Creighton ensure your legacy is fulfilled as you wish. in your will or trust or by including the University would not exist were it not for Even if you already have a will, it should University as a beneficiary of your qualified the estate plans of Edward and Mary be regularly evaluated and, if necessary, retirement plans. If you decide to leave a Lucretia Creighton. Though Edward died updated. Tax laws change and so may your legacy to Creighton, you will be eligible for without a will, Mary Lucretia provided the wishes and the needs of others. Experts membership in the Creighton University bequest in her estate that created and recommend reviewing your estate plan at Heritage Society — our recognition group endowed the family’s namesake University. least every five years. for those who have made provisions in their Realistically speaking, few of us will ever Increasingly, so-called “will substitutes” estate plans for Creighton. be able to establish a new university, but such as beneficiary designations for IRAs or If you would like to receive further through careful estate planning we still can qualified retirement plans also are being information on estate planning, learn how to create a lasting legacy for our heirs and for used to carry out one’s wishes for the include a bequest to Creighton in your estate the future of Creighton University. distribution of his or her estate. Advisers are plan or if you are interested in becoming a Bequests continue to be the most common now recommending the use of these heavily member of the Heritage Society, please call method for providing for one’s heirs and tax-burdened assets to fulfill charitable (402) 280-1143 or (800) 334-8794. Please favorite charitable organizations. However, intentions. Since Creighton will receive these accept my thanks if you have already statistics indicate that, like Edward assets free of income tax, and your estate included Creighton in your estate plans. Creighton, less than 45 percent of Americans will receive an estate tax deduction, the full have a will. If you die without a will, the value of your gift can be used to create a
41 Spring 2005 School Creightonof Law — UniversityEst. 1904 Students Remain The Last Word Law School’s Focus By Eugene Curtin
Most law school deans don’t grade chair in business law, and a $1 million papers written by first-year students. But pledged gift from George, JD’62, and then most law school deans don’t get to Susan Venteicher will be used to provide hear Justice Clarence Thomas fill their scholarships. Such donations are key to corridors with his booming laugh every the school’s future, Borchers said, since other February, either. Nor are many they enable Creighton to attract asked to develop a program for the prominent professors and also to offer community at large aimed at resolving scholarships to highly promising disputes outside the courtroom. students. But such fills the busy life of Pat “We’ve been working really hard to Borchers, dean of Creighton University’s generate the resources to support our School of Law. faculty, and to give our students more Borchers took an hour during a mild scholarships,” Borchers said. December day last year to discuss And when it comes to quality faculty, it Creighton law school’s growing is hard to beat the presence of a Supreme reputation, the blessing of having a Court justice in the classroom, even if it is Supreme Court justice serve as a visiting just every other February. Drawn by lecturer every other year, and to outline Omaha family ties and a respect for plans to offer Omaha residents a course in Creighton’s academic standards, Justice Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), a Clarence Thomas has become a familiar concept that encourages and empowers presence on campus in recent years. contending parties to settle disputes out of Photo by Mark Romesser Borchers said Thomas’ presence brightens Borchers ... Creighton’s law dean sees a bright court. future for the school. dreary February. Borchers said he hopes to make ADR a “When you get to the middle of signature program, one that will bind the law school even closer February, the holidays long gone, winter dragging on and then I to the community it has served for the past 100 years. In hear that deep belly laugh of his coming down the hall, man do addition, he said, if drawn up properly, it will make Creighton I feel better,” Borchers said. one of the few law schools nationally to develop an ADR “He likes us, and we like him. He gets a chance to teach our program that reaches beyond the classroom and has a practical students, which is a way to refresh himself. We think highly of impact on the larger community. him. I told him that if the Supreme Court thing didn’t work out, A $4 million pledge from C.L. Werner, chairman and CEO of he should come here and teach constitutional law.” Omaha’s Werner Enterprises, and his daughter Gail Werner- If he ever did, Thomas could certainly expect to spend time Robertson, BA’84, JD’88, president and founder of GWR Wealth grading papers, just like the dean. Borchers said his involvement Management, LLC, has made it possible to create the Werner with incoming students is a reflection both of his own interest in Institute in Alternative Dispute Resolution and will enable newcomers and Creighton’s overall determination that the Creighton to join just 14 other universities across the country school’s resources should be used as much as possible to that have established such centers. In one respect, however, promote education. Creighton’s institute will be unique. “This has always been a place that has cared so much about “This one will be the only one to focus on resolution of educating its students,” Borchers said. “I meet with every business disputes,” Borchers said. “Our mission will be to prospective law student personally, a couple hundred a year. I educate non-legal professionals in the techniques of resolving tell them that the only thing that matters here is education. disputes without having to go to court.” “Most law school deans don’t grade papers, but I really like Borchers outlined the ambitious plan at the end of a stellar working with first-year students. If we’re going to be serious year for the law school, certainly in terms of donations. A about educating our students, then it has to start at the top.” $1 million pledge from the Omaha-based law firm of McGrath North Mullin & Kratz’s Foundation will fund a new endowed About the author: Curtin is a freelance writer in Omaha.
55 Spring 2005 Don Doll, S.J. : Creighton’s Jubilarians Open to the Spirit
This year marks the Often I am asked if 50th anniversary of the being a priest affects my Wisconsin Province of the photography. My answer Society of Jesus, which includes is always, “Yes, it has Nebraska. everything to do with it.” In recognition of this For me it’s hard to milestone, Creighton separate the creative University Magazine process of seeing from will highlight Creighton prayer. Both can be Jesuits who are celebrating contemplative acts. 50 years in the Society Both involve an in 2005. openness to the Spirit — We start with renowned a willingness to let go of photographer the Rev. Don one’s presuppositions and Doll, S.J., in his own words. go with the hunches and intuitions that arise deep *** Don Doll, S.J., at the Jesuit Novitiate in Oshkosh, Wis., in the 1950s and today in a portrait taken by Creighton student Sarah Brandon. within one’s heart where As a photographer, I see I believe the Spirit speaks the world through the lens within each of us. of who I am and the life I’ve lived. I can’t help but photograph The Jesuits have a mission — “Faith doing Justice.” I from the life of faith that I’ve grown into as a priest over photograph to tell the stories of people who have no voice. the past 37 years. Hopefully I can help others understand and work to Often I find myself praying that I can look upon and change unjust social structures. photograph people with something of the empathy and the understanding God has for them. — Don Doll, S.J. Professor of Journalism, Charles and Mary Heider Endowed Jesuit Faculty Chair http://magis.creighton.edu