SacredHeartUNIVERSITY WINTER 2006 :: IN THIS ISSUE :: 02 FROM THE HEART 22 VITAL PARTNERSHIP 26 MIXING MEDIA 38 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT SHU Names College of Business for GE’s Legendary Jack Welch :: FROM THE PRESIDENT IN HIS WORDS :: SacredHeartUNIVERSITY continue providing our students with As I read through this issue, I am access to top-quality education and career once again struck by how well we fulfill preparation. our mission to educate students in the :: IN THIS ISSUE :: In these pages, you’ll also enjoy an Catholic intellectual tradition, and by how insider’s view of our blossoming Media proud I am to be a part of this University VOLUME 12, NO.2 WINTER 2006 Studies and Digital Culture Department. community. There are those who would Under the guidance of Dr. Jim Castonguay, divorce scholarly endeavors from popular this growing department is educating stu- culture. However, the source of human A Vital New dents who will go on to enjoy careers in understanding is human culture, and at 22 Partnership film, television, radio, journalism and Web Sacred Heart, our scholarship serves the design. Currently, it is one of the five most human community and deeply reflects On January 25, Jack Welch partnered with popular majors chosen by undergraduates the love—and hope—of the Creator. Sacred Heart to announce the new John F. in the College of Arts and Sciences. Hurricanes and wars will certainly Welch College of Business. See how one of Our “From the Heart” section includes continue to rage around us in years to the world’s most admired CEOs will change the face of SHUs business school. a roundup of notable accomplishments by come. However, if I may borrow the members of Sacred Heart’s community. words of Rabbi Yitz Greenberg, following Political Science Professor Dr. Gary Rose’s a study tour with the University’s Center Dear Friends, As I read through this issue, I am once again struck by This has been a year for the record books, how well we fulfill our mission to educate students in and our Winter Magazine is filled with the Catholic intellectual tradition. important news about our growing Mixing Media community. well-received new book on Connecticut for Christian-Jewish Understanding, 26 In this digital age, Sacred First we are able to highlight one of politics is excerpted here, and we report “We must create a world in which there Heart’s Department of Sacred Heart’s proudest moments as an on an emotional trip to Mississippi in the are no bystanders.” That exactly describes Media Studies and Digital institution: the naming of our College of wake of Hurricane Katrina by Dr. Linda our goal at Sacred Heart. Culture is an exciting place Business for the legendary General Electric Strong, professor of Nursing, and Sister I wish you abundant blessings. to study. Chairman Jack Welch, a long-time friend Donna Dodge, vice president for Mission As always, you are in our thoughts and and “one of the greatest innovators of the and Planning. grateful prayers. past 75 years,” according to BusinessWeek Finally, in the Athletics section, you’ll magazine. Mr. Welch has made the largest read about our winning teams. You’ll also gift in the University’s history to assist find a tribute to Jayson Jarrett (1980-2005), With every best wish, students in financial need and to foster a starter on Sacred Heart’s undefeated SHU Athletics faculty development and research. The National Championship football team in Sincerely, 32 University has been providing business 2001 who passed away this past summer. Catch up on all of the most recent Pioneer education since 1965, and today fully 28 This great loss resounded throughout our wins, including the women’s field hockey NEC percent of our undergraduates major in community, for Jayson, with his generous championship and a gold in Australia. Plus, find Business. Mr. Welch’s continued affiliation and humanitarian nature, represented the Anthony J. Cernera, Ph.D. out where the Pioneers will be this Spring. with Sacred Heart will help assure that we best in all of us. IFC » IN HIS WORDS A letter from President 41 » ADVANCING SHU Moving the University MAGAZINE STAFF POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Anthony Cernera community forward with gifts, giving and advancement Executive Editor: Michael L. Iannazzi Institutional Advancement Editor: Christopher J. Sheehan Sacred Heart University Magazine 02 » FROM THE HEART Insider information 43 » CLASS NOTES Catch up with old friends: Design: Keating Associates, Inc./Taylor Design Sacred Heart University Design Liaison: Roberta Reynolds on achievements, events, and people from and who’s doing what and where they are now Sacred Heart University Magazine 5151 Park Avenue Sacred Heart University Contributing Photographers: Associated Fairfield, CT 06825-1000 around campus 5151 Park Avenue Press/Wide World Photos, Marie Donahue, BC » COMING EVENTS Come back to campus with your Fairfield, CT 06825-1000 Vin Greco, Phil Noel, Wayne Ratzenberger, J. children to enjoy a musical theatre event this Spring [email protected] Gregory Raymond, Bishop Plácido Rodríguez, Sacred Heart University Magazine is published 38 » ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Highlighting SHU Len Rubenstein for its alumni, parents, and friends, faculty and graduates living the University’s mission staff by the Institutional Advancement Division Visit us online www.sacredheart.edu of Sacred Heart University. ISSN 1547-6219 Opinions expressed in this publication may Copyright ©2006 Sacred Heart University not necessarily reflect those of Sacred Heart :: ON THE COVER :: SHU Trustee Linda McMahon (left), and SHU President Dr. Anthony J. Cernera, celebrate the announcement of the Printed on recycled paper University, its faculty or administration. naming of SHU’s College of Business for legendary businessman Jack Welch (center). FromtheHeart INSIDER INFORMATION FROM AND AROUND CAMPUS FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Creating a World Without Bystanders Walking through Auschwitz drives home the religious and ethical challenges of the Holocaust and its SHU WELCOMES LARGEST FRESHMAN Rabbi Irving (“Yitz”) Greenberg, Jewish devastating impact. The most poignant question—reflected in the cries of many victims—is: where was Life Network, NY was a presenter at a God? Does God not care? How could the Divine stand by such total cruelty and infliction of innocent CLASS IN ITS HISTORY study tour for six American Catholic suffering? Why were all those prayers not answered? bishops sponsored by the Center for The turning point in my decade-long struggle to find meaning and religious orientation after encoun- On September 4, Sacred Heart University welcomed 900 freshmen to tering the Holocaust was the realization that the right question was not: where was God in the Holocaust? Christian-Jewish Understanding in its campus—21 more than in 2004, making it the largest class of first-year God was where one would expect God to be—in the camps, being beaten, scarred, tortured, oppressed, students in SHU history. The 2005 applicant pool increased by 17 percent September 2005. Part of the study tour gassed, and burned alive. ‘I am with them in their suffering’ (Psalms 91:15). I came to realize that God over last year, and 63 percent of applicants were accepted (compared included time spent at the Nazi death had allowed human freedom even to the ultimate degree of an assault that sought to kill the people of God to 85 percent in 1995). Incoming freshmen averaged 1090 on their S.A.T. camps in Auschwitz, Poland. We have and suppress its witness to the presence of God. Moreover, I came to realize that God was with his children exams, with a 3.3 grade point average. Sacred Heart University’s new summarized his thoughts here. in their suffering, suffering infinitely as only an infinitely loving, Cosmic Consciousness could. residential population also hit a high this fall; 852 freshmen (and over This insight broke down the wall of anger and alienation that had built up between us. One further conclusion followed: it is an overwhelming responsibility of humans to end God’s suffering (and human 100 transfer students) are living in the campus’ 12 residence halls, an suffering) by never allowing such an event to happen again. increase of 18 percent since last year. A majority of the new freshman class came to Sacred Heart University from four states: Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Other states represented in the class are Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Washington. The new class’ most popular The SHU family grew by a record 900 first-year students—gathered from declared majors are Business, Athletic Training, Nursing, Psychology the largest pool of applicants in our history. and Sports Management. Life-Like Mannequins Prepare SHU GAINING AN UNDERSTANDING The Holocaust dramatizes the tremendous shift in the balance of power between oppressors and evil (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) and goodness and good people. The power is so unlimited that it gives evil the capacity to wipe out every- Nursing Students for Hospital Work AUSCHWITZ At the “Peace Center,” a place one in its path. Equally dismaying, overwhelming power can be used to degrade and devastate the dignity for reconciliation. of the victims and, in some cases, force them into cooperation with totalitarianism—even to participation Mannequins have come a long way sides to accurately represent an acute enrollment has tripled in the last BIERKENAU Exchanging deep impressions in their very own killing. from those doll-like, featureless care setting. The bedsides are now three years, says Kathleen Fries, and dialogue. Rabbi Greenberg, Rabbi Ehrenkranz, The morality of power, however, is not the same as the morality of powerlessness. The challenge of department store dummies. These equipped with intravenous poles and undergraduate director for nursing. and Rabbi Blanchard. days, a mannequin can be created to pumps, and wallboards behind beds SHU’s nursing faculty applied KRAKOW Chapel where Karol Woltywa was power is that power corrupts.