THE MAGAZINE OF SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY SUMMER 2001 By Lawrence Biondi, SJ Saint Louis University President recent article by David Brooks in Atlantic Monthly called into question the character of col- Alege students today. Brooks blames go-getter parents and educational institutions for leaving today’s college-age generation on their own when it comes to character and virtue. “We fly our children around the world so that they can experience different cultures,” Brooks writes. “We spend huge amounts of money on safety equipment and sports coaching. We ser- monize about the evils of drunk driving. We expend enormous energy guiding and regulating their lives. But when it comes to character and virtue, the most mysterious area of all, suddenly the laissez-faire ethic rules: You’re on your own, Jack and Jill; go figure out what is true and just for yourselves.” I couldn’t disagree more. That’s certainly not our approach at Saint Louis University or at any of our sister Jesuit colleges and universities. At SLU we take great pride in the education that we provide our students. We take equal pride in helping them become responsible, caring members of society. Our mission — to edu- cate the whole person — clearly states that intellectual and character development go hand-in- hand. Our students, faculty and staff connect with the St. Louis community and the world community, exploring and enriching these “classrooms without walls.” Each day, through outreach programs and research efforts, the SLU family demonstrates how knowledge touches lives. Brooks says that we assume that if adults try to offer moral instruction, it will backfire because our children will reject our sermonizing (though they don’t seem to reject any other part of our guidance and instruction). “We assume that such questions have no correct answer that can be taught,” he writes. “Or maybe the simple truth is that adult institutions no longer try to talk about character and virtue because they simply wouldn’t know what to say.” At Saint Louis University we haven’t forgotten what to say about character and virtue because we have never stopped saying it. Yes, we educate more than 11,000 students in a wide variety of disciplines. But no matter what the major or degree, there is one common thread to our learning environment. All of our stu- dents are instilled with a call to act for justice and a conviction to value the dignity of every human person. In every issue of UNIVERSITAS, we share with you stories about Saint Louis University’s academic progress, research activities and community outreach. In this issue, however, we’re focusing on our strides to foster character both inside and outside of the classroom — to introduce our students to a life of service. We’re proud to be recognized as a character-building college by The Templeton Guide: Colleges That Encourage Character Development, but we’re even more pleased that Saint Louis University students, faculty and staff volunteered more than 430,000 service hours to area organizations this past year. In all, more than 6,000 members of the University community participate in service outreach programs. At Saint Louis University, we do not separate intellectual and character development. Combining these makes the educated person sensitive to greater possibilities. Intellect and char- acter, joined together, empower our students to achieve change on behalf of a more just society. On the following pages you’ll find several articles looking at the topic of character develop- ment from various angles. One story explains the many facets and benefits of our Center for Leadership and Community Service. Another describes an innovative theology course that com- bines classroom study and community service. Still another story examines the impact a unique ethics program has had on our faculty development. And the last feature article profiles three student-athletes who are building character by balancing academics, athletics and service. We take seriously the Ignatian ideal of “forming women and men for others.” I hope you’ll enjoy reading how much. CONTENTS summer 2001 On the Cover: Building char- acter at Saint Louis University. UNIVERSITAS 6 Volume 27, No. 3 Outreach Editor Laura Geiser (A&S ’90, Grad ’92) SLU’s Center for Leadership and Community Service helps students help others. Contributors Chris Waldvogel Marie Dilg (Soc Ser ’94) Glen Sparks Intern Alison Williams 10 Photo Credits Reflection Bill Barrett, 20 Curt Dennison, 2, 5 A unique theology class teaches Steve Dolan, 3 lessons in and out of the classroom. Kevin Lowder, inside cover, 7, 8-9, 11-13, 20-21 Kristen Peterson, 30 Dave Preston, 20, 21 James Visser, cover Chris Waldvogel, 2, 4 Design 14 AKA Design Inc. Ethics Art Direction: Richie Murphy Design: Stacy Lanier An innovative program places UNIVERSITAS is published quarterly by ethics at the academic forefront. Saint Louis University. Opinions expressed in UNIVERSITAS are those of the individual authors and not neces- sarily those of the University adminis- tration. Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs are welcome but will be returned only if accompanied by a 18 stamped, self-addressed envelope. Letters to the editor must be signed, Balance and letters not intended for publica- tion should indicate that fact. The Three of SLU’s student-athletes editor reserves the right to edit all prove why they’re winners. items. Please address all mail to UNIVERSITAS, DuBourg Hall 39, 221 N. Grand, St. Louis, MO 63103. We accept e-mail at [email protected] and fax submissions at (314) 977-2249. Address fax submissions to Editor, UNIVERSITAS. Postmaster: Send address changes to UNIVERSITAS, Saint Louis University, 221 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103. World Wide Web address: 2 www.slu.edu/alumni/universitas/ UNIVERSITAS is printed by Universal Printing Co. and mailed by Accurate Business Mailers Inc. 22 32 Worldwide circulation: 103,000 © 2001, Saint Louis University. All rights reserved. ININ MEMORIAMMEMORIAM 28 ALUMNIALUMNI notesnotes 30 2 Arts and Sciences makes him the School of Medicine’s largest private dean appointed donor. His wife, Margaret r. Joe Weixlmann has Doisy (A&S ’60), was honored Dbeen named dean of the and assisted in cutting the rib- SLU welcomes College of Arts and Sciences. bon at the ceremony. Most recently, Weixlmann was new vice president the dean of the College of Arts dward O’Brien, SJ (Grad and Sciences at Indiana State Trustees approve E’54, ’57, ’62), is the new University. He succeeds Dr. new directions vice president for mission and Shirley Dowdy, who has ministry for the 2001-2002 retired. SLU’s College of Arts he board of trustees OK’d academic year. He succeeds and Sciences boasts 15 depart- Tthe University’s strategic A. James Blumeyer, SJ (A&S ments and 12 centers and pro- directions at a May 5 meeting. ’57, Pub Ser ’65, Grad ’58, grams. The college is home to Officials sought feedback from ’68), who has retired and will nearly 2,500 undergraduate the University community on now work in an admissions students, more than one-third the directions, which will help spirituality program at of the University’s total under- determine the identity of the Rockhurst College in Kansas graduate population. More University. The directions City, Mo. O’Brien is minister than 250 full-time faculty teach establish a concrete plan of O’Brien of the SLU Jesuit community in the college. Weixlmann had action from 2001 to 2006 to at Jesuit Hall, a position he’s provide counsel to the SLU been dean at ISU since 1994. advance the vision and mission held since 1995. He will con- administration to ensure the of the University. The four tinue to serve in this capacity. Jesuit mission in education is foundations of the strategic As vice president, O’Brien will being realized. Before becom- School renamed directions include: supervise the campus ministry ing the minister of the Jesuit to honor Doisys • Expanding research integrat- and pastoral care departments community at SLU, O’Brien ed with teaching, learning and and facilitate programs that served as the pastor of St. he School of Allied Health service. focus on the mission of the Matthew the Apostle Parish in TProfessions was renamed • Advancing community with University. O’Brien also will St. Louis. the Edward and Margaret diversity. Doisy School of Allied Health • Fostering technology dedi- Professions in a blessing and cated to student formation and dedication ceremony on April the generation of knowledge. 17. The late Dr. Edward A. • Promoting continuous Doisy, former chairman of the institutional learning and biochemistry department, innovation. received the 1943 Nobel Prize in Medicine for isolating Those cutting the ribbon for the Vitamin K and determining its Doisy School of Allied Health constitution and synthesis. Professions included (from left) Doisy’s practice of donating SLU trustee Robin Smith; Dr. the majority of the income Joan Hrubetz, interim dean of derived from commercial the school; Margaret Doisy; application of his research find- and University President ings to Saint Louis University Lawrence Biondi, SJ. GOOD MOVE: The Childgarden building, 3840 Lindell Blvd., is being renovated to create a centralized academic ser- vices center for students. The move will allow academic advising, career services, the student educational services cen- ter and pre-professional health studies to relocate into one building, which will be ready this August. SLU purchased the building from the St. Louis Association for Retarded Citizens, which ran a day care center there. NEWS BRIEFS The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) has selected University President L Log On for Lawrence Biondi, SJ, to receive the Chief Executive Leadership SLU News Award for CASE District VI. CASE is the largest nonprofit edu- o learn about the most cation association in terms of insti- up-to-date news and tutional membership and serves T some 28,000 advancement profes- happenings at Saint Louis sionals on the staffs of member University, you now can institutions.