TRADITION
. . . the newsletter of the Fordham College Alumni Association
Fordham University at Lincoln Center, New York, N.Y. 10023
April 1992
In defense of Clement XIV, Rev. William McCusker, S.J. advises that the good pope, who dissolved the Society of Jesus in 1773, was not a former Jesuit, as reported in the January 1992 TRADITION, but was merely educated by the Society. In fact, and as you may have suspected, Clement was a Franciscan (Order of Friars Minor) whose appointment to cardinal was highly recommended to his predecessor by the Jesuit Father General. ClementÕs dissolution of the Jesuits was accomplished not by papal ÒbullÓ but by a Òbrief,Ó which indicates that Clement did not view the dissolution as a most solemn matter, and he did many things to soften the blow. Bill advises that ClementÕs Òchoice most probably was to sacrifice the unity of the Church at that time or suppress the Society of Jesus . . . tough choice!Ó
Jesuits have had enormous influence on astronomy, mathematics and other sciences according to Rev. Robert D. Cloney, S.J. During the first two centuries of Jesuit history, 631 Jesuits authored books on geometry. Astronomers have named 39 craters on the moon after Jesuits. Rev. Roger Boscovich, S.J. developed the first coherent description of an atomic theory - one of the great attempts to explain the universe in a single idea, and his influence helped minimize the hostility of Catholic churchmen to the Copernican revolution. Rev. Matteo Ricci, S.J. made western developments in mathematics available to the Chinese; he introduced trigonometric and astronomical instruments to China and translated the first six books of Euclid into Chinese. Rev. Christopher Clavius, S.J., a most influential teacher of the Renaissance, encouraged a number of mathematical developments, including the decimal point, parenthesis, use of logarithms and the vernier scale and replaced the Julian calendar with the Gregorian. Rev. Christopher Grienberger, S.J. verified GalileoÕs discovery of the four moons of Jupiter and, in 1611, organized a conference honoring Galileo. Grienberger noted sadly that, if he had heeded the advice of the Jesuits and proposed his teachings as hypotheses, Galileo could have written on any subject he wished, including the rotation of the earth.
Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., one of Catherine and OwenÕs (Ô32) boys, assumes duties as dean of The College on July 1, 1992. The Marble Hill native, who holds degrees from Boston College, the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley and the University of Chicago, is currently chairman of the religious studies department at LeMoyne College. Joe follows his brothers Owen Ô67, Jack Ô69 and Tom Ô74 to Rose Hill. TRADITION welcomes Joe and urges him again to compel mandatory wear of senior robes, once so proud a part of The CollegeÕs tradition, for all senior theology and philosophy students.
The Annenberg Foundation has established an endowed scholarship, named for John L. Marion Ô56, chairman and head auctioneer of SothebyÕs North America, at The College. Ellen Zaleski Ô92, an art history and psychology major, who is in the HonorÕs program and who spent a part of her Rose Hill career in Paris studying art history, is this yearÕs Marion Scholar.
Ramology. In about 1893, during a Fordham-Army baseball game at West Point, Fordham fans developed the following cheer as a means of urging their heroes on: ÒOne damn, two damn, three damn, Fordham.Ó Despite the fact that it had taken fifty-two years from the founding of The College for the fans to conceive and compose this cheer and that its substance was arithmetically correct, the Jesuits regarded the cheer as vulgar, risque and perhaps sinful. They attempted to suppress the cheer, but the fans resisted. Censorship prevailed, however. The cheer was changed to ÒOne ram, two ram, three ram, Fordham,Ó and, because its name rhymed with a perceived profanity, the ram was adopted as the Fordham mascot.
Disgrace has on occasion visited Rose Hill. While most ram mascots have been a credit to the University, some have not. Rameses XVIII had it all, and he indulged it all. Not content to live in a palatial ram house or to be attended by doting keepers, Rameses developed a dependency. He ingested large amounts of gin whenever Fordham was victorious (and even sometimes when it was not). He died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1963.
Scandal has followed disgrace. After being kidnapped by Manhattan students, Rameses XXIV, once considered among the most masculine of Fordham mascots, gave birth in 1974 and thus further demonstrated that Fordham's tradition of male domination had come to an end.
The One Ram Concept. Since Fordham adopted the ram as its mascot, we alumni have been besieged by a variety of images of this horned beast. Now, to end this confusion, TRADITION calls on alumni to submit their representations of the one ram image which should represent our University. The winning representation will be submitted to University President Rev. Joseph A. O'Hare, S.J. for his consideration.
The Faculty. Ferdinando Alfonsi, associate professor of modern languages, has recently published, Poesia italo-americana/Italian American Poetry. Saggi e testi/Essays and Texts. . . . Bernice Glatzer Rosenthal, professor of history, presented a paper, ÒNietzsche, Russian Futurism and the Problem of Language,Ó and was chairwoman of a panel, ÒUncertain Identities: A Jewish Dilemma in the Silver Age,Ó at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies in Washington. . . . Rev. Avery Dulles, S.J., Laurence J. McGinley Professor of Religion and Society, contends that the Catholic Church has become too introverted: ÒUnless the gospel message were a truth to be communicated to others, it would not be of great value for believers themselves. . . . (however,) absorbed in the inner problems of the Church, and occasionally in issues of peace and justice, contemporary Catholics feel relatively little responsibility for spreading the faith.Ó . . . Donald J. Moore, S.J., professor of theology, delivered an address entitled ÒMartin Buber and Christian Theology: A Continuing Dialogue,Ó at an international conference on BuberÕs impact on the human sciences hosted by San Diego State University . . . Asit B. Mukherjee, professor of biological sciences, among others, published a research paper, ÒDetection and analysis of origin of i(12p), a diagnostic marker of human male germ cell tumors, by flourescence in situ hybridizationÓ in the journal, Genes, Chromosomes and Cancer .
The American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies has presented its Marshall Shulman Prize for the outstanding book on Soviet foreign policy to Michael J. Sodaro Ô67 for his Moscow, Germany, and the West from Khrushchev to Gorbachev.
The Class of 1995 consists of 625 students. Average SAT scores for the Class are 508 (verbal) and 540 (math). New York State residents comprise sixty-six percent of the Class. Twenty-four states are represented. Children of alumni comprise fifteen percent of the Class. The male/female ratio is 46:54. The Class has the usual assortment of Christians, Muslims and Jews. Nine percent of the students listed ÒotherÓ as their religious preference.
Observations. While interviewing for the position, Bill DiBrienza, FordhamÕs newly appointed Director of Admissions, randomly introduced himself to students and asked for their thoughts about Fordham. Bill reports that he was ÒflabbergastedÓ by the studentsÕ positive comments: Ò(They) did not even complain about the food . . . !Ó He found Òa great sense of familyÓ at Fordham. . . . Vice-president for Development and University Relations Bruno Santonocito concurs with BillÕs observation: ÒFordham is different from other universities. People love Fordham.Ó
Impact. Joe OsoskiÕs Ô44 father speculated on the benefits of higher education as father and son, then age 11, were buried chest-deep in a cave-in while working the mines of western Pennsylvania. Seven years later, Fordham reaped the benefits of Ojciec OsoskiÕs vision when Joe arrived on Rose Hill, donned a football uniform and established himself as one the most elusive backs in college football. Christened ÒThe Polish LancerÓ by the New York media for his darting speed, Ososki, who was never where you last saw him, frustrated tacklers and delighted fans. A two-sport athlete, JoeÕs style on the baseball diamond compelled one sports writer to describe him as Òa poem of grace and a comet of speed.Ó After the victory over Missouri in the Sugar Bowl, war in the Pacific and decorations for galantry interrupted Ososki's college career. Joe returned to Rose Hill after the war as determined as the Rams struggled in post-war seasons. After a shot at pro ball, Joe began what he did best - he raised two children, began a high school coaching career and taught generations of Jesuit secondary students. Beyond his eagerness, his heroics, his accomplishments and his influence, what most impresses about Ososki is simply that he is a very good man.
The Fordham Club of Washington, D.C. presented the annual McMahon Award for distinguished public service, named in honor of the late Senator Brien McMahon of Connecticut, to Justice Antonin Scalia of the United States Supreme Court.
KellyÕs Summer Vacation. Kelly Brown Ô88 will spend her summer vacation cycling across America as part of the Coast to Coast Bicycle Classic. Her vacation plan has a philanthropic spin. Before Kelly can participate in the Classic, she must first raise $6,000.00 for charity. She has chosen to raise the money for alma mater Fordham. To learn how you can help Kelly on the road from Seattle to Asbury Park, contact her at 203-353-1929.
Reader Phil Moynihan Ô84 enjoys TRADITION and writes that Òthe historical tidbits and war stories contributed by some of the more senior alumni have put the University into context for me and . . . made me feel part of the larger Fordham family.Ó . . . Victor Ippoliti Ô75 found the piece ÒOn the quality of a Fordham education,Ó which appeared in the January 1992 TRADITION, to be Òin the poorest taste possible. It smacks of chauvinistic snobbery that should not be attributed to Jesuit training, but over-fertilized imaginations.Ó But, Clare Henry Ô69 advises that she enjoyed the piece very much. . . . Stephen Mahoney Ô55 appreciates TRADITION and feels Òa certain joyÓ on reading it.
In other news, in a further attempt to dilute the influence of this publication, the Board of the Fordham College Alumni Association, in league with the Jesuit fathers, has appointed Dr. Francis X. Holbrook Ô49 to the staff of TRADITION.
TRADITION: Minister of Propaganda: George P. McKeegan '69; Contributing Editors: William J. Healy '30, William H. Power, Jr.'33, Barrett McGurn '35 and Francis X. Holbrook, Ph.D. Ô49.
BOARD OF THE FORDHAM COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION: President: John V. Chervokas '59; Vice-Presidents: Patrick Burke '63, Annemarie DiCola '80, James McGuire '57, Gerri Cunningham Pare '68 and John Walton '72; Secretary: Leo Connelly '51; Treasurer: John Pettenati '81; Directors: William Banks '48, William Connell '66, Edward Farrell '57, Patrick Foye '78, Gerald Haggerty '60, Mary Ellen Hoffman '81, David Kulo '53, Edward Leahey '41, John Macisco '58, Karen Manning '69, Richard Marrin '67, Catherine McGuinness '83 and Lisa Zangara '90.
Acting College dean Rev. Louis Pascoe, S.J. invites alumni and friends to celebrate DeanÕs Day at Rose Hill on Saturday, April 25, 1992. At the DeanÕs Day ceremonies, Anthony Pisciotta, M.D. Ô41, the Robert Uihlein, Jr. Professor of Hematologic Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Hon. John Sexton Ô63, the Dean of New York University School of Law, and Terrence Quinn Ô68, the Principal of P.S. 225 in Far Rockaway and the recipient of the 1991 ReaderÕs Digest Hero in Education award, will be honored.
Fordham students can help you as business interns during the school year and summer vacation or as they begin their careers on graduation from Rose Hill. Please contact Greg Pappas of the Career Planning and Placement Center (212-579-2152) to find out how you can hire one of FordhamÕs best.
RAMembrances. The basement of St. JohnÕs Hall was a busy place in 1932. THE RAM and its cross-corridor neighbor The Monthly were cramped in small areas, but their staffers never lacked room for a ping pong table whose noisy clatter served as a constant backdrop to the chatter and rattle of the manual typewriters. Mike Sheehan Ô33, editor of THE RAM, was a competent young man who even ghosted a column for ÒSleepy JimÓ Crowley in one of the New York dailies. His lone weakness was that ping pong table where he suffered consistent defeats. The matches between Mike and Barrett McGurn Ô35 are among Bill PowerÕs Ô33 most pleasurable memories. ÒThe Great McGurnÓ would put back-spin on the ball, and Sheehan would flail helplessly at the air. MikeÕs most effective response to BarrettÕs trickery was to hurl his paddle to the floor and roar, ÒWhy canÕt you play like a man?Ó While MikeÕs frustration never won a point, it always caused the assemblage, Frank Brown Ô35 and the others, to erupt in laughter.
The Third Generation. Gabriel Liegey, Ph.D. Ô26 contributed enormously to FordhamÕs tradition. An English professor of renown, Dr. Liegey devoted more than forty years to the classrooms of Rose Hill and is estimated to have educated over 10,000 alumni. Since he enrolled on Rose Hill, thirteen members of Professor LiegeyÕs family have earned degrees from the University including ten of his children, Gabe Ô50, Jean Ô52, Brendan Ô56, Bernadette Ô64, Mark Ô64, Francis Ô64, Catharine Ô65, Greg Ô67, Veronica Ô70 and Christine Ô71. Now GregÕs son Richard Ô92, the captain of the squash team, is a member of the Rose Hill community. In fact, Liegeys have paid tuition or fees to Fordham for 55 of the last 70 years.
Lauren Gubicza Ô93, who maintains a 3.92 grade-point average, qualified for the nationals in the mile with a school record 4:43.3, in the 3,000 meters with a school record 9:15.39 and in the 5,000 meters with a school record 16:06.2. Lauren lowered the school mile record to 4:39.11 at the nationals where she earned All-America honors.
Coach Nick MacarchukÕs menÕs basketball team captured the Patriot League title and an NCAA tournament bid. The team was led by three 1,000 point scorers: physics major and all-time assist leader, Jean Prioleau Ô92, Fred Herzog Ô92 and Sanford Jenkins Ô92.
Dr. Jonathan Katz, a psychologist, now treats the menÕs basketball team. But, according to Coach Nick Macarchuk, the team does not suffer from psychoses. Dr. Katz, an admitted basketballophile, merely advises the team to relax: ÒAthletes tend to look at stress as an emotional challenge. They enjoy it. Non-athletes tend to look at it with fear. They try to avoid it. . . . Relaxed athletes perform better.Ó According to Coach Macarchuk, Dr. KatzÕ work with the players made practice sessions more competitive and pushed the players to improve. The freshmen, in particular, are playing Òtough.Ó
The Sports Page. Congratulations to Coach Christina WielgusÕ womenÕs basketball team. Led by all-time steals leader Cami Cass Ô92, Sue Moser Ô92 and thousand point scorers Christie Kennedy Ô92 and Nicole Williams Ô92, the team registered twenty-one wins and captured the Patriot League title. . . . Coach Bob HawthornÕs Ô53 1992 squash squad is 20-7 and is once again ranked nationally. . . . Coach Don GaluzziÕs menÕs swim team, led by Atsushi Ohtaka Ô92, has won every dual meet in which it competed in the last two years. . . . Linebackers Joe Rowan Ô92 and Mark Blazejewski Ô93 and wide-receiver Tom Garlick Ô93 have been named to the All-Patriot League football team. . . . Former alumni board member Joe Sullivan Ô58 won this yearÕs U.S.Air Airlines ÒBig ShotÓ three-point competition held at halftime of the RamÕs home games. In the finals, ÒChucker,Ó as Joe has come to be known, tickled the twine for 27 points in 90 seconds from the 19 foot 9 inch line.