Terrier Fall 2004 / Volume 68, Number 2 The Small College of Big Dreams Builds for theFuture Terrier Contents: St. Francis College Terrier Alumni Board of Directors Fall 2004 Building for the Future 2 Vol. 68, Number 2 President Update: Campaign for Big Dreams 3 Terrier, the magazine of St. Francis College, James Bozart ’86 is published by the Office of College Rela- SFC Faculty and Alumni Publish Vice President tions for alumni and friends of St. Francis Book About 9/11 4 John J. Casey ’70 College. Commencement 2004 10 Directors New Women’s Studies Minor 14 Edward Aquilone ’60 Linda Werbel Dashefsky Jeannette A. Bartley ’00 Mary Robinson to Speak at SFC 15 Vice President for Government and Brian Campbell ’76 SFC Grad Receives Fulbright 16 Community Relations Joan Coles ’94 John Burke Celebrates Sean Moriarty Kevin Comer ’99 60 Years at SFC 18 Vice President for Development Keith Culley ’91 Sports Roundup 22 Dennis McDermott ’74 Franey M. Donovan, Jr. ’68 Director of Alumni Relations James Dougherty ’66 Alumni News and Events 25 Gerry Gannon ’60 Profile of a Terrier 25 Editorial Staff Daniel Kane ’67 Class Notes 30 Susan Grever Messina, Editor Mary Anne Killeen ’78 Director of Communications Lorraine M. Lynch ’91 SFC Mourns Loss of Trustee Vanessa De Almeida ’00 James H. McDonald ’69 Michael P. DeBlasio 33 Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Martin McNeill ’63 Anthony Paratore ’04 Thomas Quigley ’52 Webmaster and Marketing Associate Danielle Rouchon ’92 Robert Smith ’72 Please address all letters to the editor to: Theresa Spelman-Huzinec ’88 St. Francis College Peter Spiess ’75 Communications Department Joseph Szkutnik ’71 180 Remsen Street, Room 7304 Brooklyn Heights, N.Y. 11201-4305 The opinions and viewpoints expressed in Phone: (718) 489-5466 Terrier are not necessarily those of St. Fran- cis College, its trustees or administration. Email: [email protected] Design: mNovakDesign, New York, N.Y. Photo Credits: Ken Brown, pp 10, 23, 26-27; Vanessa De Almeida, pp 27; Susan Grever Messina, pp 6, 14; Anthony Paratore, front cover and pp 2-3, 16-17, 19; Steve Rohrbach, pp 8-9; John Vollaro, pp 22-23; courtesy of St. Francis Hospital, Blue Island, Ill., pp 25. Cover Photo: SFC students Victoria Ziskind ’07, Sean Miller ’05, and Kimberley Nicoli ’05 eagerly watch over the construction for the new academic center, scheduled to open late next year. Message from President Macchiarola Dear Alumni and Friends: The academic world, in contrast to much of nature’s annual springtime rebirth, experiences its renewal every autumn with the start of the academic calendar. At St. Francis College, this is no exception. In September, students and faculty minor in Women’s Studies. This timely Finally, we are proud to report that returned to campus to find McGarry enhancement to the curriculum addresses the combined efforts of students, faculty, Library, a venerable and reliable College the academic needs of current students administration, staff, and alumni have landmark, removed and construction studying a variety of disciplines and cele- resulted in a recent citation by U. S. News underway in its former spot on Remsen brates the contributions of women to & World Report naming St. Francis Col- Street for a 35,000 square foot academic society and world cultures. lege one of the best comprehensive center. In preparation for the center’s Construction projects and academic colleges in the north. It seems that now scheduled opening a year from now and improvements such as these bring a pal- everyone will know what those of us asso- to remain compliant with building codes pable energy to St. Francis College, ciated with St. Francis College have and fire department regulations, floors, which, without the generosity of our known for years. classrooms, and offices throughout the many friends and dedicated alumni, Welcome back to campus. remainder of the College have been would not exist. Through your spirit and renumbered. support, students of today and tomorrow Enhancements to the College’s physical are promised an education that reflects, structure are not the only changes stu- and, in many cases, exceeds today’s edu- dents discovered this fall. For the first cation standards. Frank J. Macchiarola, Ph.D. ’62 time, St. Francis College is offering a President St. Francis College Terrier / Fall 2004 1 The Changing Face of St. Francis College SFC Builds on a Tradition of Excellence Remsen Street looks different than it used to. Between Court and Clinton Streets, the space where McGarry Library once stood has been cleared and under construction is an addition to St. Francis College that will affect the College’s learning environment in a num- ber of innovative ways. 35,000 square foot academic standards require students and faculty to Francis College is making to its students center, which will stand adjacent have access to technology and informa- and their long-term needs will be clear.” A the College’s main building, is tion to prepare students to enter the During the design phase of the build- scheduled to open in fall 2005. It will workforce or be accepted to graduate and ing, the College’s information technology include a state-of-the-art library, “smart” professional schools,” said President division met regularly with architects and classrooms equipped with wireless Inter- Frank J. Macchiarola, Ph.D. ’62. “These building engineers to decide how class- net access and multimedia technology, exciting changes allow St. Francis College rooms would look and feel. One goal was theater/lecture hall, updated facilities for to remain a high-quality option for stu- to create a wireless environment for the the communication arts department, dents and their families.” library and informal common spaces as gathering spaces for students, and office In fact, up-to-date facilities are often well as classrooms. Among the academic space for several academic departments. high on the list of selection criteria for center’s features are classrooms that con- Renovations to the main lobby and what high school students and their parents tain smart white boards, a tool for was formerly the 1M student lounge will when searching for a college. “Prospective presenting and modifying PowerPoint bring updated facilities and an Internet- students are extremely savvy and know and other electronic media demonstra- ready cyber lounge overlooking Remsen the difference between a contender and a tions during classes and lectures. Street for the convenience of students, pretender,” said John McAuliffe, associ- “Today’s students grew up in an faculty, and visitors. ate dean of admissions. “With the new interactive, information-rich climate,” “Today’s competitive higher education academic center, the commitment St. said Jessie Riley, the College’s vice pres- ident for information technology. “Their active learning style, which is an indica- tion for what we can expect of future students as well, requires a flexible learn- ing environment, something the new academic center is designed specifically to accommodate.” Construction of the new building, which is defined as “environmentally friendly,” began this fall after the demoli- tion of McGarry Library and excavation Construction for the new academic center is being managed by Turner Construction. The team includes Bob of the space for the new building’s foun- Kiler; Emad Lotfalla; Jim McKenna; Wendy Castro; Kevin O’Rourke, director of facilities management for SFC; Toby Romano; Bill Sabino; and Ralph Amarosa. dation. In addition to its ability to draw 2 St. Francis College Terrier / Fall 2004 in and maximize natural sunlight, the management, “makes the building’s air ty will have on their college experience. building’s in-floor air distribution system more breathable.” “We envision a technological yet warm will facilitate efficient heating and cool- While faculty, administrators, staff and environment” said Sean Miller, presi- ing. This limits the need for a complex alumni look forward to new ways of dent, Student Government Association. duct system, reducing the opportunity teaching, learning, and working that the “This will enhance the pride students for mold to grow, which according to new academic center will bring, students have in St. Francis and, hopefully, inspire Kevin O’Rourke, director of facilities foresee the considerable impact the facili- future students to share our satisfaction.” Don’t Get Lost: Floors, Classrooms and Offices Renumbered o prepare for the completion of the new academic center and to remain compliant with current New York City fire depart- ment regulations and building codes, all floors, classrooms and offices at St. Francis College have been renumbered. T Elevators, hallway signage, and door signs throughout the entire campus reflect this change. Here’s how to find your way around campus when you visit: The former mezzanine level (1M) is now the second floor. The second floor is now the third, and so on up to eight. The floor below ground level is the cellar; the floor below that is the sub-cellar. All room numbers have four digits. The first number indicates the new floor. The second number indicates the “zone.” (We no longer refer to the “science building” or the “arts building.”) The last two numbers indicate the room’s ID number. For a complete list of offices and classrooms, visit the website, www.stfranciscollege.edu. Students are finding newly renumbered classrooms and other information through Other campus updates include a complete renovation of Founders Hall, paid for by the SFC website, accessible by using any of several new computer kiosks on cam- support from the State of New York, obtained with the assistance of State Senator pus. This technology was funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education, Martin Golden. secured with the assistance of Congressmen Ed Towns and Peter King ’65. Campaign for Big Dreams Hits $16 Million Mark Generosity of Alumni, Friends, and Foundations Moves Campaign Closer to Goal he Campaign for Big Dreams, launched in 2003 to give alumni and friends of St.