Partners Incaring
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Winter 2007 Vol. 8, No. 2 Partners in Caring In their world, others come first contents features departments 5 noteworthy 10 up front 16 • Bread & Life initiative Jerome and Maxine Belson are passionate • Aiding clergy about helping those in need and their • Strengthening ties to Bermuda • Climate expert visits generosity is known far and wide. • New MBA curriculum • Partnership with NYPD 30 campus briefs • Propaganda retrospective • Studies in adoption • Bricks & Mortar update 36 giving back 20 40 alumnotes In a world fraught with unrest, a group of alumni are helping to bring 52 a conversation peace through their professions. 26 Every September, members of the St. John’s family honor St. Vincent de Paul with a day of service that is growing in participation. The St. John’s Alumni Magazine is Consistent with the University’s mission as published by the Division of Institutional a Catholic, Vincentian and metropolitan Visit our Web site Advancement for alumni, staff, faculty institution of higher education, the University for the latest updates, and friends of St. John’s. abides by all applicable federal, state and Vol. 8, No. 2 Winter 2007 news and events at local laws which prohibit discrimination on the Correspondence: basis of race, religion, color, national or ethnic www.stjohns.edu/alumni The Alumni Magazine staff welcomes origin, age, sex (including sexual harassment), Publisher your thoughts and comments. or call (877) 758-ALUM. sexual orientation, marital status or disability Donald J. Harrington, C.M. Please address letters to: in admitting students to its programs or in President Editor, Alumni Magazine administering its educational policies, St. John’s University admissions policies, scholarships and loan 8000 Utopia Parkway programs, athletics and other institutionally Editorial Staff Queens, NY 11439 administered programs or activities generally Sheri Welte or e-mail [email protected] made available to students at the University. Editor In accordance with these laws, the University Letters and articles may be edited also prohibits retaliation against anyone who Dorothy E. Habben, Ph.D. ’66G for publication. Contributing Editor has complained about discrimination or otherwise exercised rights guaranteed under Send address changes to: Lisa France these laws. In addition, the University Writer/Associate Editor Lisa Capone continually strives to fulfill its educational goals Division of Institutional Advancement On the cover: Danielle Bushell by maintaining a fair, humane, responsible St. John’s University Jerome (’48L, ’80HON) and Alumnotes and non-discriminatory environment for all 8000 Utopia Parkway students and employees. All University policies, Maxine Belson ’98HON with Queens, NY 11439, practices and procedures are administered the Belson Moot Courtroom Office of Alumni Relations by fax to (718) 990-1813, in a manner which preserves its rights and dedicated in honor of their William Schaeffer ‘73CBA by e-mail to [email protected] identity as a Catholic and Vincentian parents in the School of Law. Director or return the enclosed form. institution of higher education. president’s message Dear Friends, The months leading up to the year’s end were exceptionally memorable for St. John’s. In October, we gathered for our Ninth Annual President’s Dinner, an outstanding event which generated $2 million in scholarships for our neediest and most deserving students. In November, we came together once again for an Evening of Appreciation to show gratitude for the incredible generosity of our Loughlin Society members. As I have said many times in the past, the ongoing support of our loyal alumni makes us truly proud and blessed. I am always impressed by the diverse interests and achievements of our graduates who travel many roads once they leave alma mater, and every journey presents countless opportunities to carry the St. John’s mission with them in their personal and professional lives. It is a mission that makes us unique as a university, and that uniqueness marks our alumni as special emissaries of the values we hold most dear. The articles contained in this issue strikingly reflect the extent to which our alumni take our Vincentian values into the community at large. Featured on the cover are Maxine (’98HON) and Jerome Belson ’48L, ’80HON, an exemplary couple whose commitment to service spans more than 50 years. You’ll also meet a group of alumni who are shaping the world we live in through their efforts toward global harmony. George Anthony ’83NDC works to advance peace and justice by conducting workshops designed to eliminate bullying and social cruelty within our society. In a similar fashion, Neil Walsh ’04C is working in Japan with an organization that focuses on human dignity and the effects of humiliation on individuals. And Anthony Wanis ’87Ed, an associate professor at American University, completed his doctoral research on the peace negotiations in Israel by including personal interviews with the negotiators themselves. As yet another reflection of our Vincentian mission, I call your attention to the vignettes which bring to life just a few of the more than 1,000 stories of volunteers who participated in Service Day activities this past fall, traditionally held on the feast of St. Vincent de Paul. We honor his teachings by putting into practice our support for those in need. I am pleased to share this issue of the St. John’s Alumni Magazine with you, and trust that you will find these stories informative, inspirational and a true reflection of who we are as a community. Donald J. Harrington, C.M. Winter 2007 3 Vatican Cardinal Visits Campus Discovering the World His Eminence Franc Cardinal Launching a bold new global initiative at St. John’s University, Rode, C.M., Prefect of the students this spring are experiencing the world as their classroom Congregation for the Institutes through a virtually unprecedented program that allows them of Consecrated Life and the to live and learn in three exciting European cities — in a single Societies of Apostolic Life, semester. traveled from Vatican City Announced in October 2006, “Discover the World” gives in Rome to the Queens campus students the broad international perspective needed for success and celebrated the opening in today’s increasingly global marketplace. In the program’s first school Mass held in St. Thomas phase this spring, students will earn 15 credits and participate in More Church in September. His Eminence Franc Cardinal He was joined by The Rode, C.M. Most Rev. Alfonso Cabezas Aristizabal, C.M., retired Bishop faculty and administrators to the See of Villavicencio, who, together, marked the Columbia, and members of feast of St. Vincent de Paul. the Eastern Province of the The celebration concluded with Vincentian Community along a blessing for student leaders with more than 500 students, serving during the coming year. select service opportunities while studying with St. John’s faculty in Paris, Rome and Salamanca, Spain. “We want every St. John’s News Exec Speaks student to have the advantage of an international education, a tool for achieving success in our world today,” says James Michael Duffy has traveled the world as a correspondent and spent Pellow, Ed.D., the University’s executive vice president and more than 35 years with ABC News in a variety of professional chief operating officer. positions, and now shares his views on how the emergence of Reflecting the University’s economic as well as cultural diversity, television news evolved from radio and newsreels and shaped “Discover the World” has attracted a broad cross-section of history with the coverage of such major events as the Richard students. To help students participate regardless of their Nixon vs. John F. Kennedy debate and the Vietnam War. economic circumstances, St. John’s has made exclusive funds Duffy, vice president of operations for available through its Office of Financial Aid. Eligible students ABC News, lectured students in September must meet several academic qualifications and submit references on “Looking Ahead: Convergence of from two professors with whom they recently have studied. Technologies and the Future of Television” Thanks to a special trip by St. John’s officials last fall, St. John’s and discussed the effect that new plans to extend the program to its next phase, “Discover the technologies have on the news and how World — Latin America.” The St. John’s contingent traveled to the Internet is helping to change the way Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Panama to create a major networks gather stories. "People, on network for multiple programs of exchange for St. John’s students average, get 32 minutes of news a day from and students from partnering cities and/or nations. the Internet," he said adding that television The trip also may lead to new exchange opportunities for still plays a strong role in the dissemination Michael Duffy Latin American students. In November, the St. John’s team met of information. officials in Santiago, Dominican Republic, to hear about the With the proliferation of items such as iPods and Blackberrys, educational needs of Dominican students. Jose Miguel Hernandez, which bring media directly to the user’s fingertips, Duffy advised dean of the Schools of Social Services, Law and Business at students to familiarize themselves with the latest technology while Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre and Maestra, discussed maintaining the tenants of good journalism. Quoting from a piece sending 100 students to St. John’s Manhattan campus next authored by ABC News Correspondent Bill Blakemore and published summer to earn international business certificates. in the St. John’s Law Review, Duffy said, “’It is the journalist’s job to “Discover the World” is the latest and most ambitious of try at each deadline to give the people in the audience what they St. John’s many innovative study abroad programs. Students did not know they would want to learn until they learned it.