Iraq’s Shi’i Renaissance Living with Cancer Q&A on Stem Cell Research Campaign for Creighton: A Progress Report Winter 2007 View the magazine online at: winter 2007 www.creightonmagazine.org University Magazine The Shi’a of Iraq ...............................................................10 The toppling of Saddam Husayn and his Sunni-dominated Ba’thist regime by American and British-led coalition forces has created a Shi’i renaissance in Iraq. History professor John Calvert, Ph.D., explains. CAMPAIGN FOR CREIGHTON : A Progress Report ....................16 Two years ago, Creighton announced the public phase of the largest capital campaign in the University’s history — the $350 million WILLING TO LEAD CAMPAIGN . The response has been tremendous, and the results are propelling Creighton forward in numerous ways. 10 Living with Cancer ..........................................................22 Creighton’s Cancer Counseling Program offers hope and comfort for those diagnosed with cancer. The program combines psychiatry and oncology to treat the whole person — body, mind and spirit. Embryos, Ethics and Research on Human Subjects ........................................................ 26 The Rev. Kevin FitzGerald, S.J., Ph.D., addresses the issue of stem cell research in this Q&A. Fr. FitzGerald, who recently spoke at Creighton, holds doctorates in molecular genetics and bioethics and is on the faculty at Georgetown University. 16 On the cover: An angel hangs from the Nativity scene in St. John’s Church — one of the many “sights of the season” on Creighton’s campus. Whether it’s the calm, peacefulness of lightly falling snow, the festive twinkling of lights along the mall or the inviting scene of the Christ Child lying in the manger, Creighton University embraces this holy season in all its glory and splendor. Share in the joy, and “walk” with us through our “winter wonderland” with a slideshow of seasonal photos set to music. You’ll find it online at the Creighton Magazine website: www.creightonmagazine.org. 22 University News .....................4 Alumni News .......................28 Willing to Excel ....................35 26 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 A Time of Thanks The holiday season provides us a time to relax a bit, reflect and our historic campus give thanks for friends and family and for the many gifts we have growth. received. At Creighton University, we have much for which to be Much has been grateful. accomplished, yet We are truly blessed with a community of faculty, staff and much more can students committed to excellence in learning, research and patient be done. We must care. continue to dream big! Our student enrollment is strong, and we continue to attract We are top-caliber students. The Higher Learning Commission of the re-engaging our strategic North Central Association of Colleges and Schools recently gave the planning efforts. Those University a very positive rating in its formal reaccreditation report. discussions will include And our alumni and friends continue to respond generously to our re-evaluating the optimum WILLING TO LEAD CAMPAIGN . size of the institution at both the I am thankful for our benefactors who have enthusiastically undergraduate and professional/ embraced our bold vision for tomorrow. graduate levels, determining the resources and facilities (if any) needed It was just two years ago, in December 2005, that we announced to address this growth, reviewing the status of graduate and online the public phase of the $350 million WILLING TO LEAD CAMPAIGN — the education, and conducting a thorough review of the needs within the largest capital campaign in the University’s history. health science schools and colleges. At that time, I opined that our University was on the cusp of new In this issue of the magazine, you will find a progress report on beginnings, and that, through this campaign, we were forging a the campaign. I hope this will ignite your imagination to “dream “second founding.” big” … for this campaign is an invitation to each of you to assist The response to our call for support has been tremendous. There in transforming Creighton. As I shared at the campaign inaugural, is a momentum driving Creighton forward. This is our moment the mantle of leadership has been passed. Now the privilege and of possibility. As I said at the campaign inaugural, this is our responsibility to nurture Creighton rests with us. opportunity to “dream big.” As we settle into the early winter and the celebrations of Indeed, I have never been more bullish about Creighton. Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, know that you and your We began this campaign with a strategic blueprint that I called our families are in my prayers and those of the Jesuit Community. I am “willed future.” In that analysis, we outlined four critical issues for personally very grateful for you, members of the extended Creighton Creighton. family, who live out daily the tenets of your Jesuit education in your • Attracting and retaining the students who enable us to thrive personal and professional lives. My hope is that the present generation as a university. of Creighton students will come to do the same. I believe they will! • Revising our business model to decrease dependency on Please enjoy this issue of the magazine. Wishing you and your family tuition and clinical income. health and happiness during this holy season! • Ensuring that our existing and future infrastructure and support systems enhance our ability to fulfill our core purposes. • Increasing our capacity for research to improve our national stature and enhance student learning. John P. Schlegel, S.J. THE WILLING TO LEAD CAMPAIGN is absolutely essential to realizing President each of these goals. In line with those goals, a major initiative of this campaign has been to increase our endowment, which supports student scholarships, academic and research programs and faculty excellence. The campaign also seeks to strengthen our Jesuit, Catholic identity, provide for major science and technology initiatives, and finance University News University Magazine Fr. Schlegel Honored by Omaha Press Club Creighton University Publisher: Creighton University; Rev. John P. Schlegel, President the Rev. John P. S.J., President; Lisa Calvert, Vice President for University Schlegel, S.J., became the Relations. Creighton University Magazine staff: Kim Barnes 114th Nebraska newsmaker Manning, Assistant Vice President for Marketing and Public Relations; Rick Davis, Editor; Sheila Swanson, to have his or her caricature Associate Editor; Pamela A. Vaughn, Features Editor; enshrined at the Omaha Cindy McMahon, Senior Writer. Editorial Advisers: Cam Press Club during a Enarson, M.D., M.B.A.; Patrick Borchers, J.D.; Richard ceremony this fall. A O’Brien, M.D.; Diane Dougherty Crowley; Rev. Donald A. Doll, S.J.; Tamara Buffalohead-McGill; and Jayne Schram. standing-room-only crowd of 250 turned out to honor Creighton University Magazine (USPS728-070) is published (and roast) Fr. Schlegel at quarterly in the spring, summer, fall and winter by the event on Oct. 11. In Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE addition, Omaha Mayor Photo by Dave Weaver 68178-0001. Periodicals postage paid at Omaha, Neb. and Mike Fahey, BA’73, surprised Fr. Schlegel enjoys the roast, with his caricature and emcee additional entry points. Address all mail to Marketing Ken Stinson in the background. and Public Relations, Omaha, NE 68178. Postmaster: Send the Creighton president by change of address to Creighton University Magazine, P.O. proclaiming Oct. 11 as Fr. Schlegel Day in the city of Omaha. Box 3266, Omaha, NE 68103-0078. Ken Stinson, chairman of Peter Kiewit Sons’ Inc. and a Creighton board member, served as the emcee. Additional roasters included Creighton Athletics Director Bruce For more enrollment information, contact the Rasmussen; Fahey; Lyn Wallin Ziegenbein, JD’77, executive director of the Peter Kiewit Undergraduate Admissions Office at 1-800-282-5835, [email protected]. Foundation; and Joseph Kavan, BA’79, JD’82, partner with Kutak Rock LLP. The caricature has Fr. Schlegel standing on Creighton’s campus with a tennis racket To make a gift to the University, contact the in one hand and a pair of Opera Omaha tickets in his pocket, highlighting his love for Office of Development at 1-800-334-8794. physical fitness and the arts. In the background are various campus buildings, including residence halls, St. John’s Church and the Creighton University Medical Center. For the latest on alumni gatherings, contact the Alumni Relations Office at 1-800-CU-ALUMS (800-282-5867) or check online at www.creighton.edu/alumni. Creighton Psychology Professor named nebraska Update your mailing address or send alumni news sharing, nurturing, being patient, curious, and (births, weddings, promotions, etc.) electronically through Professor of the Year www.creighton.edu/alumni, call 1-800-334-8794 or respecting individual differences. It is the best mail to Office of Development, Creighton University, Creighton University psychology professor way to make a difference in someone’s life,” 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178. Isabelle Cherney, Ph.D., has been named she added. Nebraska’s 2007 “Professor of the Year” by the Students say her enthusiasm is often View the magazine