Notre Dame de Namur University MAGAZINE I Summer 2004V O L U M E 4 | N U M B E R 3

Without the ability togather a jury of one’s peers to sit in judgment ofsomeone who is accused of a crime, our judicial sys-tem could not function. Inthe current criminal trialof Scott Peterson, one ofthe questions asked ofeach prospective juror is,“Can you reach a decisionthat supports the death

penalty for Mr. Peterson who is accused of murderinghis wife and unborn child?” This is a difficult questionfor many in our society to answer with any certainty.

My earliest recollection of the death penalty debatewas when I was about 10 years old. I remember mygreat aunt Elizabeth telling me about her father, my great grandfather, Henry Walrath, who forgedthrough his own experience with the death penaltywhen he was called to be a juror in the murder trial of Chester Gillette, the inspiration for the killerdescribed in Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy.

In the early years of the 20th Century, Gillette had moved to upstate New York and went to work for his uncle at the Gillette Skirt Factory in HerkimerCounty. He had a relationship with and impregnatedone of his uncle’s employees, Grace Brown. In herearly stages of pregnancy, he took Brown to a smalltown in the Adirondack Mountains. One day, Gillettetook Brown out in a rowboat on Big Moose Lake anddrowned both her and their unborn child.

This would appear to be a cut-and-dried case.However, when my great grandfather was called to bea juror at the trial, he said, “Your Honor, I can’t sit injudgment of another man’s son because I have sevenchildren of my own.” The judge then looked at himand said, “Henry, that is not a reason to be excusedfrom the jury.” My great grandfather replied, “If youhave to sequester the jury, then I can’t run the onlyhotel in town that will have to house all the jurors andthen also still serve on the jury.” Based on that simplestatement, the judge said, “Henry, you’re excused.”

Most of us do not have the good fortune to be thesole hotel proprietor in town, which would enable usto avoid being placed on a jury for a murder trial whencapital punishment is a distinct reality. Yet the issue of capital punishment still remained. Henry knew aguilty verdict would result in the death penalty.

Beginning on May 2, 2004, Notre Dame de NamurUniversity started a year-long dialogue on the deathpenalty in the United States. Our Commencementspeakers were Sr. Helen Prejean and actor/activistMike Farrell. The University gave honorary doctor-ates to both speakers for their contributions to theCommencement ceremony and their commitment to issues of social justice. While both speakers are anti-death penalty, it is important to note that Sr. Helen spent much of her presentation talkingabout those who are committed to social justice aswell as about those who do not have the means to survive or have access to the proper means to defendthemselves.

A university is expected to support an open-minded debate on the death penalty or any other issue that comes to our attention. That is what univer-sities do; they explore all points of view, present thosepoints of view to others as a means of educating soci-ety, and, subsequently, help all of us decide our ownposition on significant issues.

Sister Helen and Mr. Farrell’s presentations havebeen greeted with both praise and condemnationthereby engendering a healthy debate in the commu-nity. One individual sent me a letter just days afterCommencement 2004 praising the university for pre-senting an issue of social justice. Others have com-mented that a motivational speech to the graduateswould have been more appropriate.

Our mission at Notre Dame de Namur University is to teach people what they need to know to live inthe world that they live in, to be concerned about andattentive to issues of social justice – including thedeath penalty – and to work towards world peace.While we focus this year on the death penalty, we will not neglect the other facets of our mission.

continued on page 3

L E T T E R F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T

S O C I A L J U S T I C E : E X P L O R I N G A L L S I D E S

2 NDNU I 2004

PUBLISHERMark Lewis

MANAGING EDITORKaren Plesur

ASSISTANT WRITERMadhur Devi

CLASS NOTESMirna Michelle Sazo

Letter From the President .........2

Development News...............3-4

Faculty Corner ..........................5

Social Justice.........................6-7

Commencement .......................8

Class of 2004..............................9

Athletics .................................10

Student Life ............................11

Residence Hall ..........................12

Alumni News ............................13

Class Notes..........................14-15

C O N T E N T SNDNU Magazine, Vol. 4, No. 3

PRODUCTIONJeanene Denegri-Nielsen

Jeanne GomezMoore-Wallace Press

PHOTOSNDNU Public Relations Archives

Julie Rossi

Special thanks to all who contributed to this magazine.

2004 I NDNU 3

Donor Profile:

The Ruth and George Beech Endowed Scholarship

ary Beech has enjoyed two careers in her life, oneon the East Coast and one on the West Coast. Theonly child of Ruth and George Beech, she grew upin New Jersey. Her parents, who were unable to

attend college, were adamant about the importance of highereducation, and they were committed to the idea that theirdaughter would obtain a four-year degree. When Ruth Beechdied in 1969, Mary Beech decided to honor both her parents byestablishing an endowed scholarship, which she did in 1970.

A graduate of Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, Mary’sfirst career was in the travel industry. She worked for severalyears for Cook’s Tours in Manhattan, where she wrote travelbrochures and served as a correspondent for their world-widetravel magazine. Shortly after Mr. and Mrs. Beech retired, theydecided to move to California and join Mary, who had moved toBelmont in 1957. They settled in Santa Clara in the early 1960s.

After a five-year stint working for the Stanford AlumniAssociation, Mary initiated the process that would launch hersecond career. She earned a master’s degree in education fromStanford and became a special education teacher. Mary spent atotal of 30 years as a teacher (five years teaching English and 25years in special education), first at San Carlos High School andthen at Sequoia High School in Redwood City. “Being a specialeducation teacher was such fulfilling work. I often meet my former students who are eager to share news of work, promo-

tions, and familylife. One daywhen I wascrossing thestreet, one of myformer studentspicked me up offthe ground andwhirled mearound, saying ‘It’s so nice to see you; thanksfor helping methrough highschool.’”

In her retirement Mary busies herself with tap dance, golf,and, appropriately enough, travel. She has explored Asia,Europe, South America, the Caribbean, and the United States.Mary’s affiliation with NDNU has spanned more than 40 years.She has taken courses here, participated in social events, andhas made many friends at the University. Her desire to honorher parents with an endowed scholarship will enable futuregenerations of students to take advantage of all that NDNU has to offer.

M

D E V E L O P M E N T N E W S

Julia Louise Hosack, the very first student to receive the Ruth and George Beech Endowed Scholarship, withMary Beech at the NDNU Donor Scholar Reception.

Following are excerpts of a thank you letter from the fall 2003 recipient of the Ruth and George BeechEndowed Scholarship:

“Thank you for supporting higher education by donating to Notre Dame de Namur University. I have chosenNDNU because of its accelerated music program. It has supported me with a comfortable environment whereI have been able to learn and grow . . .”

“The student teacher ratio is also a plus for I would not be able to have such close and productive personalrelationships with the faculty at any other university . . .”

“Without the support of donors like you, I would not have been able to have such magical experiences here at Notre Dame de Namur University. Once again, thank you for your support.” Julia Louise Hosack

We will examine many social justice issues from Tenderloin to our own backyard in Belmont. And we will help our studentsdevelop a better understanding of those who are different ethni-cally, socially, economically, racially, and sexually in our effort topromote world peace, through the understanding and apprecia-tion of differences.

By appreciating our differences, we continue to support themission of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur; the missiondefined by St. Julie Billiart 200 years ago. Let us spend the 2004-2005 academic year exploring all points of view regarding thedeath penalty. If we can present a case for or against the deathpenalty and we can defend that case, even if we can’t reach an

agreed moral conclusion, we are still much better informed on theissue and we have addressed and proven the mission behind thisuniversity’s existence – to teach people what they need to knowto live in the world they are living in by exploring all aspects of the issues that impact our lives.

Sincerely,

John B. Oblak, Ph.D.President, Notre Dame de Namur University

President’s Letter continued from page 2.

4 NDNU I 2004

he Heritage Society of NDNU is composed of people who believe inthe University’s mission and who

have helped to ensure its continuancethrough estate planning. According to Sr. Roseanne Murphy, Executive Directorof Planned Giving, “A gift, be it a bequest,an investment in our pooled income fund,or the designation of theUniversity as a beneficiaryof an insurance plan, helpsto secure the future ofNDNU, and makes thatdonor a special part of usforever.”

Sr. Roseanne also notesthat membership in TheHeritage Society enablesthe University to “helpinspire the next generationof students to work forpeace and justice and usetheir education in the ser-vice of society. There is nogreater investment of timeand resources than that.”

Membership is not lim-ited to alumni but is opento all persons who appreci-ate the mission and scope ofthe University. “In addition to strengthen-ing the University’s financial future,” saysSr. Roseanne, “members will be invited to special events on campus and will beregularly updated on campus news andactivities.”

The Heritage Society:Back to the Future

Kelly Solis-Navarro andSister Roseanne Murphy.

T

D E V E L O P M E N T N E W S

“What prompted me was an opportunity to give back for

all it had given me. It gives my husband and me an opportu-

nity to have some money used to give a student an excellent

education. I feel so lucky to have had my parents sacrifice

for me. Now, I can help someone too.” Mary Chapman ’62

“I joined because of my appreciation of the values for which

the College stood, and still stands. Moreover, I have an ongoing

belief in the important role that a private university like NDNU

can play in shaping our young people

who are willing to serve their

communities.”Dr. Mary Ellen Boyling,

NDNU faculty member for 36 years

“Education is the only protection

and security when everything fails.

With knowledge we can open new

paths of communication to reach

the goal of understanding in the

pursuit of peace.”Kelly Solis-Navarro ’73

What prompted you to join the Heritage Society?

Left to right, President Oblak, Margaret Falk '72, Mary Bosque '54, and Kathy Pike '68.

2004 I NDNU 5

FA C U LT Y C O R N E R

r. NeilMarshall,Associate

Professor ofBiology, andPresident of theFaculty Senate,goes every sum-mer to the bigisland of Hawaiifor research inisland biogeogra-phy. This summer,he is photograph-ing an active lava flow from the Puu Oovent of Kilauea volcano at night, gatheringdata for the NDNU-hosted NationalAssociation of Geoscience teachers’ sum-mer field conference. While photograph-ing, he fell onto a recent pahoehoe flowand received burns to his right arm andhand from the slightly cooled lava. Ratherthan dampening his interest in this work,he already purchased his tickets to returnin August. In the emergency room, Dr.Marshall was told, “You know, we don’tsee many of these.”

The recipient of the 2004 George M. Keller Excellence in Teaching Award is Michael Elkins, Chair of the Theatre

Arts Depart-ment. PresidentOblak pre-sented Elkinswith the cashaward duringCommence-ment on May 2.“Michael wasrewarded forhis deeply car-ing attitudetoward all hisstudents,” said

Dr. Christine Bennett, Dean of the Schoolof Arts and Humanities. “He also has theability to bring out the best in them bothas actors and as students.” Each springafter students vote for their choice, theProvost, Deans, and former Keller Awardwinners

convene and closely evaluate the ballotingand accompanying comments.

On July 1, 2004, Dr. Richard Carolan,Associate Professor in Art TherapyPsychology, assumed the position ofDepartment Chair replacing Dr. DorisArrington. Dr. Carolan has been with the University since 1994. He will con-tinue as Research Coordinator for theDepartment.

During his tenure at NDNU Dr.Carolan has also served as President ofthe Art TherapyCredential Board,and as AssociateEditor of the ArtTherapy Journalof the AmericanArt TherapyAssociation(AATA). He hasserved on AATA’sStandardCommittee andResearchCommittee, andis currently onthe ballot for AATA Treasurer. He is aBoard Certified Art Therapist and has aprivate consultant practice in Petalumaand in Oakland where he serves on theMedical Staff at Thunder Road Substance

Abuse Clinic,an affiliate ofSutter HealthCare System.

Dr. DorisArrington, Chair of theATP depart-ment for thelast 28 years,was awarded aFulbrightSenior Spec-ialist grant in2004. She will

continue as a professor in the departmentbut will be on sabbatical in the spring of2005 teaching art therapy in China andformer Soviet bloc countries.

On May 23,2004 comedianBill Cosby head-lined a programentitled “Cosbyon Campus:CelebratingTeachers” atStanford Uni-versity to honoreducators makinga difference in thelives of low-income childrenand youth in the San Francisco Bay Area.Of the 150 outstanding local educators onhand, two of only six university-levelteachers selected were NDNU’s Dr. JudithGreig, Dean of the School of Educationand Leadership, and Dr. Don Stannard-Friel, Professor of Sociology andAnthropology.

Dr. Greig continues to focus on low-income youth through her School’s Cen-ter of Excellence which addresses suchequity and access issues as literacy, ESL,diversity, and special education.

Keep an eye out for the release of sociology professor Dr. Don Stannard-

Friel’s newbook this fall.City Baby andStar: Addiction,Transcendence,and the Tenderloin(UniversityPress) is thefirst book in atrilogy calledVoices from theEdge. It’s abouttwo addictswho reside inthe impover-

ished Tenderloin community of San Fran-cisco, and why one was able to get cleanand sober while the other could not. Big Dand Proud Mary: Being a Man in the Tenderloinwill be the second book in the series, followed by Reverend Hope and The Ongs:Altruism, Spirituality, and the Tenderloin.

Dr. Richard Carolan

Dr. Doris Arrington

Dr. Judith Greig

Dr. Don Stannard-Friel

Kudos, Fulbrights, New Books and More

Dr. Neil Marshall

Michael Elkins

D

Living the Mission: Social Justice at NDNU

6 NDNU I 2004

Newspaper reporters interview Sr. Helen Prejean and Mike Farrell.

“Social Justice” – two words that, when combined, evoke very

different meanings among intelligent and well-meaning people.

Is social justice best understood legally? Morally? Religiously?

Can personal behavior define social justice, or is social justice only

“real” when it exists in the social fabric? Moreover, is social justice

the same across cultural boundaries?

While commitment to issues of social justice has always

been central to the mission of NDNU, this commitment has been

more focused in recent years as we have reframed the curriculum

with tighter alignment to the mission.

As NDNU launches its Center for Social Justice with a

year-long investigation of capital punishment, we are very aware

that this topic generates heated debate among justice-abiding

citizens. The death penalty programs offered throughout the

coming year will explore all sides of this very controversial and

complex topic. We will not prescribe how anyone should think.

However, we will, in our programming, educate ourselves

and the surrounding community to help inform opinion and

action. This role of education to build an informed citizenry is

a definition – and vision – for social justice upon which we can

all agree.

This issue of NDNU Magazine looks at several current and

future “proof points” of the issue of capital punishment in action

here at NDNU: recent Commencement speakers Sr. Helen

Prejean and Mike Farrell; the October premier of the stage play

version of Dead Man Walking; and Dr. Phil Gasper’s nomination

of death row inmate Tookie Williams for a Nobel Prize.

The succeeding three issues – fall 2004, winter 2005, and

spring 2005 – will cover additional death penalty examination

components in greater detail. Then, with the summer 2005

issue, we will introduce the exploration of our next key social

justice focus: civil rights.

From Different Backgrounds, A Common CauseThe University’s 2004 Commencement’s speakers come from

completely different backgrounds. One is from Louisiana, the

other from Minnesota. One is a nun, the other’s an actor. Both,

however, claim common ground as passionate opponents of the

death penalty.

Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ is the widely acclaimed author of Dead

Man Walking. A New York Times best seller and nominated for a

Pulitzer Prize, the book has spawned an Academy Award-win-

ning movie, an opera, and soon, a play. A popular and dynamic

speaker, Sr. Helen has been awarded more than 30 honorary

degrees from such diverse schools as St. John’s, Georgetown,

Holy Cross, Amherst, and Notre Dame de Namur University.

Her next book, due out in January, is The Death of Innocents:

An Eyewitness Account of Wrongful Executions.

Mike Farrell, the B.J. Hunnicut sidekick to Alan Alda’s

Hawkeye Pierce for eight years on television’s M*A*S*H, contin-

ues to act in such films and TV shows as Choices of the Heart

and Providence. In 2002 he was elected first Vice President of

the Screen Actors Guild. He is currently president of Family

Motion Pictures whose mission is to make family-oriented films.

Farrell is also co-chair of Human Rights Watch, president of

Death Penalty Focus, and spokesperson for CONCERN/America,

an internal refugee and development organization. He has won

numerous awards for public service, including the Valentine

Davies Award presented by the Writers Guild of America to

“those whose contribution to the entertainment industry and

community-at-large have brought dignity and honor to writers

everywhere.”

In her remarks, Sr. Helen explained that she wanted to show

Patrick Sonnier, the inspiration for the Sean Penn character in

the movie, compassion even though he had committed a heinous

crime. “I couldn’t stand the idea that he could die without

having a loving face to look at,” she said. Farrell noted that “All

people have dignity. All people deserve to be treated with honor.

All people deserve to be treated with respect.”

Sr. Helen’s and Farrell’s comments marked the inauguration

of NDNU’s year-long examination of capital punishment as one

facet of the concept of social justice.

A Note From Provost Dr. Lucille Sansing

Dead Man Walking . . . Under the Proscenium ArchNDNU is one of a small number of Catholic colleges invited to

stage the new play version of Dead Man Walking, written by Tim

Robbins. The selection of NDNU as a premier site was the result

of a first visit to the campus by Sr. Helen Prejean in spring 2002.

The play will be shown in eight performances with opening

night scheduled for October 22.

On the day of the opening, the University will host a panel

discussion exploring the relationship between social justice and

the arts. The panel will be moderated by Professor of Theatre

Arts Michael Elkins, who will also direct the play. Invited pan-

elists include Sr. Helen, Mike Farrell, Sean Penn, Danny Glover,

and Susan Sarandon. After the discussion, there will be a recep-

tion with the panelists, before the opening curtain of the pre-

mier. Please check the NDNU Website, www.ndnu.edu, for

ticket information.

From Gang Leader to Nobel Prize NomineeDr. Philip Gasper, Chair of NDNU’s Philosophy and Religious

Studies Department, was recently interviewed by

Ed Bradley of 60 Minutes about Dr. Gasper’s nomination of San

Quentin death row inmate Stanley “Tookie” Williams for a

Nobel Peace Prize.

Williams, a convicted murderer and one of the founders of

the notorious Crips gang in Los Angeles, has been on death row

for over 20 years. During the last 10 years he has written books

for children and adults about the realities of prison life and how

to avoid gangs and violence. Gasper feels that Williams has

“turned his life around and he’s

risen above his situation.”

Further, Gasper believes

that Williams has contributed

significantly to the cause of

peace because even though he

has sat for years in an isolated

cell with very few available

resources, he has managed

through his writings to have a

positive influence on people of

all ages both nationally and

internationally.

A strong opponent of the

death penalty, Gasper first

came in contact with Williams in 2001. “I spoke on a panel on

which Stanley was one of the speakers by telephone,” recalls

Gasper. “I heard about his case and became interested in what

he was doing. He had just been nominated for the Nobel Peace

Prize by the Swiss Parliament. I read some of his books and cor-

responded with him. The following year when they were taking

nominations for the 2002 Peace Prize, I decided to re-nominate

him. Although I haven’t met him in person, I’ve been taken by his

life and his impact.”

2004 I NDNU 7

Philosophy Professor Dr. Philip Gasper teaches a class during taping for60 Minutes. This segment aired May 23.

Dr. Philip Gasper

Simply put, commencementspeakers can be put in two cat-egories.’There are those whoseek to inspire with a call to“carpe diem” and “make yourway fearlessly down life’s broadhighway.”’Others challengegraduates on serious social,political, or moral issues.

We at NDNU prefer the lat-ter.’We favor speakers who are

in some way linked to our mis-sion, a mission that supportsthe notions of a collaborativecommunity, social justice, andglobal peace.’If we’ve done ourjob right, an NDNU graduatewill already be prepared andmotivated to seize the day.

While stimulating discussionand debate, these types ofspeakers also help to leverage

the University as an institutionby attracting the notice of local and regional media.’Andwe are especially fond of cap-turing pairs – or even trios – of people with shared valueswho not only challenge us, butdo so in an informative andentertaining way.

A Word About

Commencement

Speakers

he numbers say it all. 5000 spectators. 647graduates. 92°F. 83, the age of the oldestmale graduate. 74, the age of the oldest

female graduate. Two speakers. One mission.Well, almost all. Even though temperatures

soared into the 90s making those dark gowns atad warmish, NDNU’s Commencement 2004 wentoff without a hitch and even featured an histori-cal first: the two speakers.

Actor and human rights activist Mike Farrelland Dead Man Walking author Sr. Helen Prejeanboth focused on social justice. In fact, their comments constituted the kickoff to a year-longexploration of the death penalty. Under the aus-pices of NDNU’s School of Arts and Humanities’Center for Social Justice, the University will beexamining all aspects of capital punishment viacoursework, panel discussions, liturgies, and the premier of the play version of Dead ManWalking, written by Tim Robbins and directed by NDNU’s own Professor Michael Elkins.

After listening to Mike Farrell talk about theuniversal need for love, respect, and attentionand Sr. Helen’s statement that “Passion is thegreatest fire you can catch from God,” NDNUtrustee and vice-chairman Don Carroll observed “Isn’t it nice when the comments of yourCommencement speakers are such a clear reflection of your mission.”

TCommencement 2004

C O M M E N C E M E N T

2004 I NDNU 9

C L A S S O F 2 0 0 4

ho says college is for twenty-somethings? NDNU as an insti-tution is a strong advocate of

lifelong learning and two members of theclass of 2004 underscore this in a big way.

John Robertson, BS, Business John was born in Toronto in 1920, twoyears before the Sisters of Notre Dame deNamur purchased what is now RalstonHall Mansion. In 1939 Canada enteredWorld War II and John decided to dropout of Concordia University in Montrealto enlist in the Royal Canadian Navy. Heserved as a commissioned officer on botha minesweeper and frigate protecting convoys in the North Atlantic.

Following his discharge in 1945, Johnwent back to college, this time to McGillUniversity, also in Montreal. But fate onceagain curtailed his studies. Besides work-ing on his degree in commerce, John wasworking for the Canadian division ofDuPont. The company transferred him to Toronto.

His dream of a university degreeslipped further from his grasp when hisfather bought an insurance agency in San Mateo and asked him to join him in California. John was intrigued, andpacked his bags. By 1957 he was married;he and wife Dorothy have three sons, one a lieutenant with the Napa County

Sheriff’s Office, and the other two are in real estate in Bend, Oregon.

But John still had “unfinished bus-iness.” A friend told him about “the university on the hill” and ever since, John has waxed enthusiastic about it.“What’s to dislike,” he asks. “I liked the campus, the courses, and the profes-sors. Audrey Calefas-Strebelle was partic-ularly efficient, and Roger Goodson wasextremely helpful in guiding me to theright courses.”

What’s next for John? He can’t retireagain; he did that 20 years ago. But hedoes want to go back to school and lookinto some more courses at NDNU.

Phyllis Outzen, BA, Human ServicesRecalling her kindergarten days in a one-room schoolhouse in Red River, New Mexico, Phyllis Outzen said, “I hadan inclination not to learn at that time.”But things change.

Phyllis, at the age of 14, moved toCalifornia with her family, travelingaboard a military troop train, the onlytransportation available at that time outof northeastern New Mexico. After grad-uating from Modesto High in 1947, shetook a number of secretarial courses atwhat is now Modesto CommunityCollege.

By 1950, Phyllis, then a ballroom dance instructor, married fellow danceinstructor John Outzen, and they boughtthe Del Mar Dance Studio. John went towork for Sears and was frequently trans-ferred throughout their 27-year marriage.Thus, as a young expanding family, theyarrived in San Mateo in 1958 along withthe first four of their six children .

It was in San Mateo that Phyllis blos-somed. Although her lack of formal edu-cation always chafed her, she found ful-fillment through her involvement in anastounding number of organizations. Onenews clipping from 1969 noted that shewould be speaking to the San CarlosChamber of Commerce on “Work ofVolunteers with Jail Inmates andFamilies.”

The article went on to list Phyllis’ affiliations. There were 11, with titles likeMembership Chairman of the Service

League of San Mateo County; Publicity Chairman for the Boys Club of San Mateo;Health & Welfare Chair of the CaliforniaFederation of Women’s Clubs; SocialChairman of the Hillsdale High PTA; and Budget Panel Member and Trustee of the United Bay Area Crusade.

Eventually, all this communityactivism and the accompanying social life resulted in her developing an alcoholaddiction. She credits this period, and hersubsequent recovery through AA – she’sbeen sober for the past 28 years – withmaking her a “stronger, more compassion-ate and empathetic person.”

Following her retirement in 2001 afterworking 16 years for San Mateo County,Phyllis took note of daughter Tina’s mas-ter’s degree in Public Health Adminis-tration from NDNU and decided shewould finally finish up her degree at herdaughter’s alma mater. “I like this place,”she says. “It’s a lovely, comfortable atmos-phere, and the professors are truly nicehuman beings who really care.”

Next on Phyllis’ agenda is yet moreschooling. She took her mother’s advice –“Grow up, get a job, and be somebody” –to heart. She will complement and sup-plement her BA in Human Services with amaster’s degree in MFT, also from NDNU.

WLifelong Learning: A Tale of Two Graduates

n October 26 the Argonautharriers com-

peted for the Califor-nia Pacific ConferenceChampionship at MillsCollege in Oakland. It was a goal that theNDNU cross-countryrunners had proposedto achieve early in the season. It seemed abit ambitious since it was in the first yearNDNU had put a team in a championshipevent. To make it more challenging, theteam was composed entirely of freshmen.The men scored 18 points to overpowerthe conference, an impressive display oftalent given that a perfect score is 15points. Not only were the NDNU harriersthe conference champions, but the individ-ual conference champion on the men’s andwomen’s side were both NDNU athletes,Ruben Mora-Roman and Jenny Mobarez.Many of the runners were awarded “AllConference” honors. At the end of theevening Coach Jesse Torres was awarded“Coach of The Year” honors.

O

Cal-Pac Coach of the Year: Jesse Torres en’s Soccer finished the 2003

season with an overall record of14-8-0. They won the California

Pacific Conference Championship with a perfect record of 7-0.

Fabian Garza was selected to theHonorable Mention All-American team,the NAIA All-Region II team, and as theCalifornia Pacific Co-Player of the Year.Head coach Joe Silveira completed his 13thseason at NDNU, and was named the 2003California Pacific Conference Coach of the Year.

Women’s Soccer ranked fourth in thenation, with an overall record of 19-3-0.Sophomore Yang Zhou was named FirstTeam All-American, Conference Player ofthe Year, and to the NAIA All-Region IIteam. Senior Adriene Farrales was namedas a Third Team All-American, First TeamAll-Conference, an All-America ScholarAthlete, and an All-Region II Selection.Junior Amber Davidson was named as an Honorable Mention All Americanselection.

Men’s and Women’s Cross-Countryreturned to NDNU. The men won theCalifornia Pacific Conference Champion-ship; Ruben Mora was the first place fin-isher in the championship. Coach JesseTorres was named Coach of the Year (seeaccompanying article). On the women’sside, Jennifer Mobarez was the overallwinner of the Cal Pac Championship.

Women’s Volleyball finished 22-11 over-all and won the California Pacific Confer-ence. The team qualified for the NAIARegion II Tournament under first-yearhead coach Devin Grant. Freshman

Ashley Hardwick was named as the Conference Player of the Year.

Men’s Basketball finished with an over-all record of 15-17 and a 12-6 CaliforniaPacific Conference record and made it tothe conference playoffs. Junior Jason Billiewas a First Team All Conference selection.

Women’s Basketball completed the sea-son in fifth place in the California PacificConference and made it to the conferenceplayoffs. Senior Nalani Howard and soph-omore Melissa Bayol were First Team AllConference selections.

Men’s and Women’s Golf finished theirfirst season successfully. At one time, themen were ranked as having four of the topfreshmen in the NAIA. They were led byfreshman Dean Henry and made it to theNAIA Region II Playoffs and finished fifth.Henry was named as the NDNU MaleFreshman. The women had their best finish as they placed sixth at the toughChico State Tournament.

Softball had an overall record of 30-21 and at one time were ranked 21st in thenation. They made it to the NAIA RegionII Tournament for the first time ever andfinished third. Senior Jamison Harnishand junior Nicole Brazier were bothnamed to the NAIA Region II team.

Men’s Lacrosse made an impressive debut under Head Coach Joe Romano.Lacrosse had an overall record of 7-6.Sophomore Justin Der was named NDNUMale Newcomer of the Year. NDNUlacrosse players show the same spirit and intensity on and off the field.

M2003-2004 School Year Sports Wrap-up

NDNU Sports Clinicsin the Tenderloin

AT H L E T I C S

10 NDNU I 2004

or the past year, NDNU has teamedup with the Tenderloin SportsInitiative; a program developed

with former UCLA coach John Wooden, to offer sports clinics to youth in SanFrancisco’s Tenderloin community. Todate, the university has sponsored two volleyball clinics, a basketball clinic, and a lacrosse clinic. The enthusiasm of ourathletes is matched only by the energy and enthusiasm of the children, many ofwhom are first-generation Americans,born into families who fled the killingfields of Southeast Asia after the end of thewar in Vietnam. Next year, NDNU is look-ing into offering a series of clinics thatwill include volleyball, basketball, soccer,lacrosse, and softball. A football clinic, incollaboration with the National FootballLeague Alumni Association, is also beingconsidered.

NDNU students are teaching the basics of volleyball to a group of inner city children

at the Tenderloin Children’s Playground.

F

2004 I NDNU 11

l Salvador’s civil war lasted 12 yearsand claimed 80,000 lives. Two ofthose lives will always be very spe-

cial for NDNU’s newly elected ASNDNUPresident, Yasmine Kury.

When Yasmine’s dad, a professor atSan Francisco State University, organizeda retinue of observers for the San Salva-doran presidential election, political sci-ence major Yasmine signed on as one ofthe 15 college students among the 300observers. She knew that during hereight-day stint she would be witnessingthe possible victory of FMLN, the partyher aunt had championed years earlier.

She also knew that the incumbentparty, ARENA, had the inside track. Thiswas the same party whose paramilitary

forces in 1983 had captured Yasmine’sseven-months-pregnant aunt, a comman-der of the FMLN insurgents. While cap-tive, the aunt, Yanet Samour Hasbun, wastortured and subsequently murdered,along with her unborn baby.

ARENA emerged victorious in the revolution and held on to power right on up to the March 2004 election. Whenall the votes were counted, ARENA won again by an overwhelming majority.Despite many obvious transgressions and intimidations, there was little theobservers could do other than write up areport on their findings. “It was amazingto be surrounded by so many who hadalso suffered emotional trauma,” saysYasmine. “Even though we made little, if any,

difference,” notes Yasmine, “the peoplestill felt better knowing that neutralobservers were watching.” Was it aworthwhile experience for Yasmine?“Absolutely. Sure, it was an emotionalroller coaster, but it was also a hands-onlesson in how a determined governmenthangs on to power.”

Though just 20, Yasmine is more awarenow than ever that political power rarelyworks for everyone across the board.“While listening to the victors celebrate,”Yasmine recalls, “I saw an older womansilently watching. I broke down, then,thinking that here’s a woman who willnever see justice in her country in her lifetime.”

EElections and Emotions Near and Dear to New ASNDNU President

Yasmine Kury

Citizens of El Salvador waiting in line to vote at the capitol in San Salvador.

or five years, students in StreetwiseSociology have offered a workshop to the youth of San Francisco’s

Tenderloin Community on getting in –and staying in – college. Working withthe staff of our admissions and financialaid offices, who supply the nuts and boltsof college admissions, NDNU students telltheir own stories about how they got intocollege and what it’s like being a collegestudent. Pictured at right, sociology andpolitical science major, Crystal Lowry ispresenting her experience to the gathered

high school students. Each year, about 30 youth and service providers attend theworkshop. While the program is not spe-cially designed to recruit for NDNU, butencourages the attendees just to go to col-lege, workshop attendees are currentlyenrolled in our teaching credential pro-gram and the Human Services major. A young woman who attended the lastthree workshops recently graduated fromLowell High School in San Francisco andis an incoming freshman in InternationalBusiness.

FCollege Night in the Tenderloin

S T U D E N T L I F E

R E S I D E N C E H A L L

What’s in a name, Shakespeare asked. For one thing, it

could be a tangible and enduring record of your support for a

worthy cause. NDNU is now making available some wonderful

naming opportunities for several impressive future facilities.

The University’s multi-year Master Plan calls for a new

residence hall, a new campus center, and parking lot improve-

ments. The first building to be erected is the new residence

hall. Scheduled for completion this month, the 35,800 square

foot state-of-the-art structure will feature suites for 200 stu-

dents, a resident director apartment, a multi-purpose lounge,

laundry facilities, and outdoor congregational spaces.

The modern design will offer planned vistas of the campus and

an increased sense of community. Suite designs will allow for

maximum flexibility so the students can configure their living

quarters according to individual preferences. Angled around a

bluff, the hall will capture afternoon breezes and create cross

ventilation in every suite. Fully wired for Internet access, the

radiant floor heating under quarry tile will create a warm ambi-

ence throughout the building.

For further information on how you can be forever associated

with one of the new residence hall’s suites, offices, benches,

or other naming opportuities, contact Manny Nungaray,

Director of Annual Giving and Operations, at (650) 508-3442

or mnungaray@ndnu.edu.

namingopportunities

Opportunity Price

Residence hall complex $6,000,000

Courtyard 500,000 Sky lounge 250,000

Residence hall office(s) 100,000

Resident assistant apartment 100,000

Residential suites (53) 80,000

Courtyard benches (6) 2,500

Engraved pavestones 250

Your Name...Here

12 NDNU I 200412 NDNU I 2004

2004 I NDNU 13

A L U M N I N E W S

NDNU Alumni AssociationBoard of DirectorsPresidentFrank Besnyi, BS ‘90, MBA ‘95

SecretaryKaren Blanchard Stevens, BA ‘91, MA ‘97

Alumni Board MembersAlexander Agopovich, BS ‘92, MA ‘01

Rosario Fernandez, MPA ’04

Therese Kehl, BA ‘98

Gary Krippendorf, MSM ’03

Joe LaMariana, MBA ’89

Ariel Manalo, MBA ’02

Patrice Ragona, MBA ’02

Laura E. Ritter, BA ‘94, MCP ‘98

Carla Repetto Webster, BA ‘70, Cred., MA ‘73

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Board, call Jamie Rose at (650) 508-3515.

Our e-mail list is missing an important address . . . Yours.The NDNU Alumni Association has a monthly e-mail communication program.

We hope you’re already on it. If not, please fill out this form.

Name _________________________________ Phone _______________________ E-mail ___________________________ Signature ___________________________

and mail to: NDNU Alumni Association, 1500 Ralston Avenue, Belmont, CA 94002-1908

or e-mail your address to: jrose@ndnu.edu

Alumni Association (650) 508-3515

lumna JamieRose ’01, hastaken on

the combined roleof Director ofEvents and AlumniRelations withgreat enthusiasm.Jamie has lined upan impressive pro-gram of events forthe coming yearand looks forward to speaking with you. Please feel free to contact her at (650) 508-3515 or jrose@ndnu.edu.

ANew Alumni Director

August

2-6 – Shakespeare in Ashland; A chance to see

three Shakespeare plays, Much Ado about Nothing,

King Lear, and Comedy of Errors

September

24-26 Argonaut Family Weekend;Weekend Highlights: Art & Wine Tasting Reception,

Evening at the Monte Carlo, Music Concert

27 – Golf Tournament; Annual fundraiser for NDNU

athletic teams at Peninsula Golf & Country Club

October

15-17 – Wine Country Tour; A tour of Martini

Winery, luncheon with Gina Gallo, and wine and

food pairing lunch at the Schramsberg Winery

15 – October Fest Micro Brew Tasting Event;in Ralston Hall Mansion, benefiting the NDNU Alumni

Scholarship Fund

29 – Alumni Association Seabiscuit Night at the Races; Seabiscuit Scholarship fundraising event

benefitting students in financial need

November

7 – Little Women’s Tea; An adult host and a

“little woman” will enjoy entertainment scenes from

children’s classic literature as performed by talented

NDNU students

Spring 2005February

4-6 – Alumni Welcome Back Weekend; Renew

old friendships and meet new friends. This event

will replace the traditional Faculty Alumni Reunion

Weekend

2004-2005 AlumniEvents Calendar Do you have a story

to share?Send in your story or ideas

to mlewis@ndnu.edu

id you know that as an alumnus/alumna you can use the CareerDevelopment Center free of

charge? The Center offers servicesincluding but not limited to job searchstrategy, resume writing help, career self-assessment, and finding the right job. For more information call the Center at (650) 508-3717.

Did you know graduates of NDNUand students currently enrolled and having completed at least 24 unitsreceive a 25 percent discount off RalstonHall Mansion rental rates? Visit theRalston Hall Mansion website atwww.ralstonhall.com or call (650) 508-3501.

Did you know you can get 10 percentoff car rentals at Enterprise Rent-A-Car?Just book reservation at www.enter-prise.com or call 1-800-RENT-A-CARand type in or mention discount codeR62924.

D

It’s Good to be an Alum

’47Peggy Steel, AA in Liberal Studies,

still lives one mile from where shelived while attending NDNU. Shenow has 21 grandchildren.

’54 Josephine Bertaccini, BA in

English, enjoyed being honored atthe 2004 Commencement exercises. 50 years is a great accomplishment.

’58 Mary Ann Aberle Klouda, BA in Chemistry,

has retired from teaching physiology at Cali-fornia State University, Sacramento and hasmoved back to Massachusetts to be near herfour children and six grandchildren.

’59 Carmen Batten, BA in Biochemistry, worked

for NASA research for 35 years as a chemist, butis now retired. She is enjoying visiting friends,playing bridge, and volunteering at her church.

’60 & ’64 Patricia Montague, BA in Spanish, is now

retired and enjoys exercising and her threegrandchildren.

’62 Marianne Testa, BA in Spanish, and husband

Nick have a sixth new grandchild. There arefour boys and two girls. “We are blessed!” they say.

’67 & ’68Helen Young, BS in Chemistry and Single

Subject Credential, and husband Stu are off to Rome and Greece in early September to celebrate their 36th wedding anniversary.

’69 Marla Colburn Moreno, BS in Business, is

teaching English as a Second Language andAdult Beginning English to inmates from 20 to 65 years old.

’79 Teresa A. Messinger, BS in

Dietetics, has been married for 25 years this June 2 to EdwardFrank Messinger, who receivedhis MBA in ’79 as well.

’80Bill Beacock, MBA, is the owner of Pillar Point

Realty in El Granada, California. He played onthe first NDNU men’s soccer team.

’82 Dennis Hobby, BS in Nutritional Science,

is now a DDS. He was elected VP of theCalifornia Dentist Association for 2004.

’83 Therese Cassar, BA in Behavioral Science,

works as a school psychologist at Palm SpringsUnified School District. She and her husbandRick recently celebrated their 10-year anniver-sary. Their twin boys are four years old.

14 NDNU I 2004

C L A S S N OT E S

Keep your fellow alums up-to-date! Send your news to theAlumni Office, Notre Dame de Namur University, 1500 Ralston Ave.,Belmont, CA 94002. Please include your name at the time of gradu-ation, your graduation year, your degree, and your phone number.You can also help us keep our records current by including youroccupation and title, your work and home street addresses, and your work and home e-mail addresses.

Give Us Your Class Notes

DNU alumna Barbara Morganwill finally get her chance togo up in space in 2006. Shewill take part in an assembly

mission to the International SpaceStation with the crew of STS-118.

Barbara was selected as a backupcandidate for the NASA Teacher in SpaceProgram on July 19,1985. She trainedwith Christa McAuliffe and the rest ofthe ill-fated Challenger crew at NASA’sJohnson Space Center, Houston, Texasfrom September 1985 to January 1986.She went back to Idaho in the fall of1986 to teach; however, she still contin-ued to work with NASA’s EducationalDivision. Her duties as Teacher in SpaceDesignee were public speaking, educa-tional consulting, curriculum design,

and serving on the National Science Founda-tion’s Federal Task Force for Women andMinorities in Science and Engineering.

In January of 1998, Barbara was selected asthe First Educator Astronaut. She was assigned to technical duties in the Astronaut Office SpaceStation in the Operations Branch after she hadcompleted two years of training and evaluation.Recently, she has been working in the AstronautOffice of the CAPCOM Branch as the primecommunicator with on-orbit crews.

Barbara Radding was born November 28,1951 in Fresno, California. She married ClayMorgan and has two sons. Barbara received herbachelor’s degree from Stanford University in1973, and her Teaching Credential from NDNUin 1974. She is a classical flautist who enjoys theoutdoors.

Astronaut Barbara Morgan

NBetter Late Than Never

Recently Married?Send us your wedding pictures and we’ll include them in Class Notes!

��

ver the course of several decades of pastoral work, Anne MarchandGreenfield noticed that many peoplehave a desire to enrich their lives

through prayer but are hampered by a lack of information as to how to go about it. As a result, she has written Songs of Life, PsalmMeditations from the Catholic Community atStanford, (Blackfriars Press, 2004). “It is thework of many years,” she reflects, “and Icouldn’t have done it without the excellenteducation I received at Notre Dame.”

Before earning her MA in PastoralTheology from NDNU in 1983, Anne, whoprefers to be called Nancy, graduated fromAlbertus Magnus College with an AB inClassical Languages in 1962. No stranger tohigher education, Anne also attended JohnCarroll University, San Jose State, and theFranciscan School of Theology at the GraduateTheological Union in Berkeley.

Prior to going full time into ministry, Nancy taught highschool for 16 years while pursuing studies in English, theology,history, and curriculum design. This period also saw her serve asdean of studies at Sacred Heart Preparatory in Atherton.

Immediately following her graduate work at NDNU, Nancybegan serving as Chaplain for the Catholic community atStanford University. In the ensuing 20 years she preached,directed retreats, led prayer groups, and provided counseling

and spiritual direction to undergraduateand graduate students. Nancy’s workwith Jesuits for eight years trained her inIgnatian spirituality. Further studies pro-vided insight into both Franciscan andThomistic spirituality. Currently, she isworking with Dominicans of the WesternProvince who are charged with the pas-toral care of the Catholic Chaplaincy atStanford University.

Songs of Life is designed to facilitatethe act of prayer. It is also, notes Nancy,“an attempt to help others look atSacred Scripture through the lenses oftheir experiences and relationships,through the metaphorical language of literature and photography, and discovera meaningful and prayerful way to relateto the God who loves us so much.”Thebook contains 30 art photos by award-

winning photojournalist Eva Soos, over 150 original meditationson the psalms, and 50 literary reflections based on writings ofsuch well-known Stanford authors as Tobias Wolff, EavanBoland, John L'Heureux, and Wendell Berry.

Songs of Life is available through Keplers bookstore inMenlo Park, CA, the Stanford University bookstore, and AveMaria Community Bookstore in Saratoga, CA. It is also availableonline from amazon.com.

Nancy Greenfield

OExplores Spiritual Traditions

C L A S S N OT E S

2004 I NDNU 15

’91Edmund Burke, BA in English and French,

is now working in the Washington, D.C. area as a technical writer and track coach. He com-peted in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials inBirmingham, Alabama on February 7 and took50th place out of 90 contenders. In October2003 he ran the Chicago Marathon in twohours, 21 minutes, and 53 seconds, which quali-fied him for the trials. He says he has been run-ning like Forrest Gump for the past 21 years,and it has opened him to many fantastic experi-ences and introduced him to many wonderfulfriends (particularly between ’87 and ’91, whenhe ran for NDNU).

’94Rosette Simonton, BA in Behavioral Science,

works at her church as a preschool coordinatorin charge of overseeing the curriculum and pro-gram for 3-5 year olds.

’01 Ryan Samantha Potthoff,

BS in Human Services/Counseling, is workingtowards her degree field and loving it. She iscurrently the program director for a well-known non-profit agency in Southern Califor-nia, and works with low-income and homelessfamilies. Recently married, her new last name isPregenzer.

’03Jeanie McLaughlin, Human Services Admin-

istration, was inducted into the San MateoCounty Women’s Hall of Fame in March 2004 for her outstanding work in early childhooddevelopment.

’04 Stuart E. Latimerlo, MA in Counseling

Psychology, Marriage, and Family Therapy, is currently working as a therapist intern forNorth Peninsula Family Alternative in South

San Francisco, holding group sessions with adolescent boys who have been convicted ofsexual offenses. He also works with families and individuals.

BIRTHSLisa Dill, ’94, Single Subject Credential had

a daughter, Hannah Rose Dill, on January 12,2000.

Therese Kehl, ’01, and her husband, Jason, welcomed Julia Nancy Marie Kehl into theworld on March 6, 2004.

Kelli Davis, ’03, MA in Counseling Psychology,and her husband welcomed Natalie Elizabethinto their lives on September 11, 2003, .

In MemoriamJoanne C. Moe, ’34Kay Phillips Hines, ’62Jean Buttner, ’67

Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage

PAID Permit No. 44

Belmont, CA 940021500 RALSTON AVENUE, BELMONT, CA 94002-1908

A D D R E S S C O R R E C T I O N R E Q U E S T E D

COMMEMORATIVE PAVESTONE ORDER FORMPavestone Engraving Instructions: The pavestone will accommodate 3 lines of 20 characters

each. Fill in the grid using upper case letters and leaving a space between each word.

NDNU Engraved Commemorative PavestonesWant to buy a little piece of immortality? A pavestone is a great way to honor yourself or someone you love, to remember someone you’ve lost, to celebrate a special accomplishment, or to commemorate special occasions. The pavestones measure 5 3/4" x 11 5/8" x 2 3/8" and will beinstalled in the courtyard of the new residence hall. Cost is $250 per paver. For more information, please contact Manny Nungaray at mnungaray@ndnu.edu or (650) 508-3442. All proceeds from the pavestones will benefit the NDNU Fund, which in turn will strengthen academic and athletic programs, provide scholarships to deserving students, upgrade technology, enhance library services, and beautify our campus.

Name ____________________________________________________ Company (if applicable) ___________________________________________

Address _________________________________________ City _____________________________________ State ______ Zip _______________

Country _________________________________________ Telephone ___________________________ E-mail _____________________________

❇��MC ❇��Visa ❇��Discover Credit Card # __________________________________________________ Expiration Date ____________________

Pavestones are $250 each for individuals or businesses. Businesses with logos are $350.

Please send the completed form with payment to:Development Office/PavestoneNotre Dame de Namur University1500 Ralston AvenueBelmont, CA 94002-1908

Or fax to (650) 508-3760

First Pavestone1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

A

B

C

First Pavestone1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

A

B

C

Second Pavestone1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

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