TRADITION

. . . the newsletter of the Fordham College Alumni Association

Fordham University at Lincoln Center, New York, N.Y. 10023

January 1994

RAMology. While Jesuits deny the report, one Ram gridiron great advises that Fordham achieved status as a pigskin powerhouse during the Ô30s and early Ô40s largely because the Jesuits had little to do with the football program. The alumni ÒranÓ the program. They hired the coaches, recruited the players and scheduled the games. The Jesuits were not displeased as the football Rams rolled to victory after victory.

The disruption of World War II and the rising popularity of professional football upset the balance on Rose Hill, and the Jesuits assumed control of the football program with unhappy results. In a decision which still impacts the University today, the administration chose not to build a stadium, and, by 1951, despite a talented team and a successful record, the football program was losing a reported $15,000.00 a game.

When Monsignor John Tracy Ellis, the dean of historians of the American Church, published ÒAmerican Catholics and the Intellectual Life,Ó an article in Thought magazine, which publicly, and rather harshly, questioned why AmericaÕs foremost Catholic universities were more renowned for their blocking and tackling than for their academics, the decision was painful but clear. On December 15, 1954, to the shock of the nation, the University announced that it had discontinued the football program. Many players and recruits, including one future professional hall of famer, scurried to other campuses. But, football was in FordhamÕs nature.

After ten years of discontent, in 1964, Don Ross Ô65 and John Connolly Ô65 campaigned for student government office on a pledge of organizing a club football team as a non-varsity sport. As Connolly remembers, Ross persuaded Rev. Vincent T. OÕKeefe, S.J., the University President, that football could be ÒcontrolledÓ. Aided and abetted by Bill Burke Ô65, David Langdon Ô65, Bernie Muller Ô65 and others, Connolly and Ross committed monies, including funds which were earmarked for LangdonÕs second semester tuition, and scheduled games. Langdon coached the players and, incredibly, in ConnollyÕs words, made a team Òout of . . . guys who had never played a game together before.Ó

The club football Rams lost their first game on the road in Augusta to Maine Maritime. But, two weeks later, in their home opener on Jack Coffey Field, ÒShoeless BobÓ Grunke Ô67 scored the winning touchdown as Roger Dexter Ô65, Moe Habron Ô66 and Pete Signori Ô68 starred, and the Rams bashed their Bronx rivals, the Violets of N.Y.U., 20 - 14. To the admiration of the Jesuit community, the club football team, which was ÒrunÓ entirely by students, paid its debts and ended its first season with money in the bank.

Playing for the love of the game, the club football team, coached by former Fordham All-America Jim Lansing Ô43, earned honors as the top ranked club team in the nation in 1965 and again in 1968. The teamÕs efforts led to the restoration of football as a varsity sport in 1970, and, in 1989, Rev. Joseph A. OÕHare, S.J., the University President, elevated the program to the 1-AA level. On October 29, 1993, at a dinner in honor of Coach Lansing, in recognition of their contribution to the University, the club footballers forever lost their non-varsity status as the University awarded Block F letters to the student athletes of the club football team.

In honor of Coach LansingÕs contribution to Fordham football and in evidence of his playersÕ affection and respect, the University will award The Jim Lansing Trophy each year to the football teamÕs outstanding lineman.

Buoyed by the success of the fall ÒNot HomecomingÓ celebration, TRADITION will celebrate Winter Homecoming on February 5, 1994 when the menÕs and womenÕs basketball Rams play at Rose Hill against the Bucknell Bison. Contact Julio Diaz of the Department of Athletics (212-817-4300) for event and ticket information.

Minister of Religious Matters Nick OÕNeill Ô55 reminds us that the tenth annual retreat weekend will be held at Mount Manresa and St. Ignatius Retreat Houses from March 11 to 13, 1994. Contact Mike OÕNeill of Alumni House (212-636-6520) for details.

On a recent October evening, members of the Fordham Debate Society confronted a panel of Jesuits on the issue whether the Catholic Church will survive the 21st century. The Debate Society supported the position that the Church will not be able to fulfill the needs of its congregation if it does not adapt to 21st century society. Debater Chris Dunnigan Ô96 cited the lack of communication that exists between the congregation and the Church hierarchy and the ÒindifferenceÓ the Church shows toward the opinion of lay people, and debater Deanna Crooks Ô94 argued that Òthe Catholic Church has an obligation to change with timeÓ and to adapt to the diversity and needs of an ever-changing population. In opposition, Rev. Joseph A. OÕHare, S.J., the University President, argued that the Church cannot conform to social trends and has a moral obligation to be a timeless standard. Defining the Church as a Òpilgrimage of sinners who are all accepted in the faith,Ó Fr. OÕHare asked, ÒWill the Catholic Church be ready for the 21st century? I hope not, because it would mean the Church would be adrift in the times and lose its power.Ó If this occurred, concluded OÕHare, the Church would no longer be a base for morality and, therefore, fail in its obligation.

At the fall McGinley lecture, Avery Dulles, S.J., Laurence J. McGinley Professor of Religion and Society, said that, through his strongly worded protests against Òdehumanizing forces,Ó Pope John Paul II has made himself Òthe leading prophet of authentic humanism in the world today.Ó John Paul II Òis not afraid to confront others in his struggle to salvage human dignity,Ó Dulles said. The PopeÕs message is prophetic, Dulles said, because it is delivered with a sense of vocation in the face of enormous opposition. It is humanistic, he said, because John Paul II has defined the central and unifying task of the Church as that of rediscovering and promoting the inviolable dignity of every human person. Dulles cited John Paul IIÕs insistence on the importance of the notion of sin, adding, ÒThe loss of the sense of sin, which seems to be an affliction of our time is evidence of the failure to see man as a responsible, moral subject oriented toward truth and goodness.Ó

The Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Religion, given to the best theological text written in the previous five years, has been presented to Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, a professor of theology, for her book She Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse, a research book which attempts to illustrate how important womenÕs issues and women themselves were and are to theological events. In a recent interview, Dr. Johnson advised: ÒThe old image of God as an old, white man must be changed.Ó This image supports patriarchy on earth. ÒWhen God is male, the male is God. It is not bad to speak about God as male, but it should not be the only way you speak about God. . . . The Holy Spirit has diminished in importance because of the focus which has been kept on the male images of father and son. . . . God will be given new and better attributes when we use different more inclusive images.Ó

The Faculty. Hector Lindo-Fuentes, associate professor of history, published in Spanish: ÒConsecuencias economicas de la independencia en CentroamericaÓ in Leandro Prados de la Escosura. . . . William Singer, professor of mathematics, was the first Adams Lecturer at the University of Manchester in Great Britain. The lectureship was named for the late J. Frank Adams, professor of mathematics at Cambridge and world leader in homotopy theory. . . . Avery Dulles, S.J., Laurence J. McGinley Professor of Religion and Society, received the first place award from the annual book awards of the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada for The Craft of Theology: From Symbol to System. . . . R. Richard Geddes, assistant professor of economics, presented a research paper, ÒPricing and Market Structure with Entry into the U.S. Postal Services Industry,Ó at a conference on postal and delivery economics in Daun, Germany. . . . Quamrul Haider, assistant professor of physics, published the paper, ÒExcited states of the nucleon within the Friedberg-Lee modelÓ in Nuovo Cimento A: Nuclear and Particle Physics (Italy), vol. 106 (1993). . . .Kathryn Moore Heleniak, associate professor of art history, delivered a paper entitled ÒThe Colonized Nude in Nineteenth-Century British ArtÓ at the national conference of Interdisciplinary Nineteenth-Century Studies, held at Arizona State University. . . . Alfred T. Hennelly, S.J., professor of theology, edited and published the book Signs of the Times: Theological Reflections, a collection of essays by Uruguayan Jesuit Juan Luis Segundo. . . . Ron L. Jacobson, assistant professor of communications and assistant chairman of the department, is the author of a new book, Television-Related Cartoons in The New Yorker Magazine: Over 1250 Cartoon Descriptions (1950-1990) Indexed by Cartoonist and Subject. . . . Richard M. Mills, professor of political science, consulted on the development of political science curricula and research at Vilnius University and Vytautas Magnus University in Lithuania.

University President Rev. Joseph A. OÕHare, S.J. has named Rev. Vincent G. Potter, S.J. the first holder of the Ignatius Loyola Chair in liberal arts. Established through a gift of more than $1 million from the Jesuit Community at Fordham, the Ignatius Loyola Chair was designed to encourage and foster teaching and research in the humanities, in the long tradition of Jesuit education. Fr. Potter, who is the editor of the journal International Philosophical Quarterly, is the author of On Understanding Understanding: A Philosophy of Knowledge.

The J. Aron Charitable Foundation has presented a gift to the University to continue its project ÒThe Nostra Aetate Dialogues: From A Common Spiritual Heritage to New Understanding Between Catholics and Jews.Ó The inaugural event in the Nostra Aetate series will be ÒThe Jewishness of Jesus,Ó an open discussion featuring presenters Shaye S.D. Cohen, Ungerleider Professor of Judaic Studies at Brown University, and John P. Meier, author of A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus.

IMPACT. When Edward Berry Leahey, Jr. Ô69 came to Fordham, he came with a tradition. Four generations of his family had been there before. Legend has it that his great grandfather had saved The College when he undertook the long journey by sleigh from Rose Hill to New York City to replenish The CollegeÕs food supply after the Blizzard of 1888. On Rose Hill, Edward began to enhance that tradition. He grew a beard as a college freshman which gave him the appearance of a tenured classics professor - an old tenured classics professor; and he began another Fordham tradition - afternoon tea at four. Tea at LeaheyÕs room in MartyrÕs Court became a vogue in which many found relaxation and comfort, others stimulation, still others their only meal of the day. Edward became involved with the Mimes and Mummers, the Fordham players. This was a passion with Edward, and he often performed before audiences of as many as six. To Edward, this was not lack of support; it was simply evidence that people hadnÕt heard yet. It encouraged him to interest others in the activity. Although his fellow students sometimes did not always share EdÕs enthusiasm for various activities, he always shared theirs. He followed the rugby team and often attended its games and practices. He was a participant in every discussion or debate held on campus.

During his junior year, Ed was elected to the Fordham College Honor Society. As one of his pledge stunts, he was required to lead a group of eighteen ÒseminariansÓ to sell ÒModern Youth and ChastityÓ booklets to the patrons of an East Bronx drive-in movie theater during a pornographic film festival. Edward was outstanding. He sold $2.25 worth of booklets at 15¢ per before the showing of the second feature. It would have been more, but he got distracted.

In his senior year, he was elected to the Fordham team in the ÒG.E. College Bowl,Ó a television quiz program which tested the general knowledge of its student-contestants. For game after game, question after question, Leahey of Fordham answered almost every question asked - correctly. At times, FordhamÕs rivals literally did not participate in the competition because of EdwardÕs dominance. After three weeks of the ÒEdward Leahey Show,Ó the network advised him that it had received complaints from matrons throughout the country that Team-FordhamÕs tactics in passing ÒProfessor LeaheyÓ off as a student were reprehensible. (Edward always claimed that he received an equal number of marriage proposals). Edward and his teammates retired the College Bowl trophy two weeks later.

On the day Edward graduated from Fordham in 1969, the graduates assembled in the gymnasium for the distribution of diplomas. As the roll was called, the graduates rose and walked to the stage amidst polite applause from their relatives. Half-way through the ceremony, the name Edward Berry Leahey, Jr. was announced, and Edward stood. A wave of applause arose, crested and broke. The gymnasium was on its feet as Leahey received his diploma. Leahey loved people and the things in which they were interested, and, in turn, people loved him. But, at thirty-three years of age, Edward passed away, all too prematurely. The Alumni Association awarded Ed the Alumni Achievement Award in Medicine posthumously, in 1981, for research by which he had discovered the interaction between two commonly used cardiac drugs and the development of radioactive tracers. The Leahey Fellowship at Fordham bears his name.

Roots. Mary Ellen Hoffman Ô81 invites all alumni, family and friends of Fordham to join her on the Alumni AssociationÕs Ellis Island outing on Saturday, May 14, 1994. Events will include a tour of the Ellis Island historic site and museum, lunch and lectures by John J. Macisco, professor of sociology, and Rev. Joseph P. Fitzpatrick, S.J., professor emeritus of sociology. Contact Mike OÕNeill of Alumni Relations (212-636-6520) for further information and reservations.

Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., The College Dean, who continues to incur TRADITIONÕs displeasure by refusing to compel senior theology and philosophy students to wear senior robes, reminds TRADITIONÕs readers that DeanÕs Day will be celebrated on the Rose Hill campus on Saturday, April 16, 1994. This yearÕs course selections include ÒThe De-Greening Of Irish History?Ó by Nancy J. Curtin, associate professor of history; ÒThe ÔColonized NudeÕ In Nineteenth Century British ArtÓ by Kathhryn Moore Heleniak, associate professor of art and music; ÒOccultism In Prerevolutionary RussiaÓ by Bernice Rosenthal, professor of history, and ÒDefending The Faith: Nascent Black Theology As An Apology For ChristianityÓ by Mark L. Chapman, assistant professor of African-American studies. Contact Mike OÕNeill of Alumni House (212-636-6520) for details.

Dinner with the Dean. Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., The College Dean, invites interested alumni to join him for dinner at Lincoln Center to discuss issues of concern to The College. Fr. McShane will host the next dinner on March 1, 1994. Contact Mike OÕNeill of Alumni Relations (212-636-6520) for further information and reservations.

The Sports Page. With regret, TRADITION notes the resignation of Larry Glueck, a good man and a fine role model, as coach of the football Rams. TRADITION thanks Coach Glueck for his efforts on Rose Hill. . . .The womenÕs cross-country team won the 1993 ECAC Championship, and Suzanne Gould Ô96, Claudine Kelly Ô96 and Adrienne Cooney Ô95 were named All-East. . . . Heather Stone Ô97, the goalie of FordhamÕs womenÕs soccer team, collected a Patriot League record 321 saves for the season and was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year in womenÕs soccer. . . . The lightweight menÕs varsity crew won the Club Eight race at the Head of the Schuylkill Regata in Philadelphia. . . . . Kim Allen Ô94 is the first female athlete on the Fordham menÕs hockey team. Says Allen, Òthe guys on the team are just the nicest bunch. . . . People say its too rough and I laugh.Ó . . . Apparently believing that he is ubiquitous, the Patriot League has named Aaron Dougherty Ô94 to its first team league football team at both defensive end and linebacker and has named him its Defensive Player of the Year.

The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and the H.B. Earhart Foundation has awarded Mary P. Nichols, professor of political science, and Stephen R. Thomas, associate professor of political science, grants totalling $184,000.00 to institute a new program in gender and political philosophy. The grants will be used to support the development of undergraduate courses that address gender issues and to bring distinguished visiting professors to teach graduate courses.

Reader Sally Brenner Ô84 commends Lenore Strocchia-RiveraÕs Ô81 observations in the September 1993 TRADITION. ÒSince my graduation . . , I have read with puzzlement and detachment each edition of TRADITION. . . . Lethargy usually sets in when I extract the latest edition of the newsletter from my mail, and any opinions I may have about its contents are usually yawned away by the final paragraph. I have wondered who your intended audience is . . , simply because the newsletter is not a reflection of my four years of wonder, deep friendship and intellectual development at Fordham. . . . The wooden sign warning ÔGirls Not AllowedÕ remains firmly nailed on the clubhouse door. Let us try to include a diverse group of alumnae in the reporting of events and our shared legacy. My largest and dearest group of friends continues to be those with whom I studied English literature in Dealy Hall, crammed in Duane Library, attended Cinevents weekly in Keating, performed on CollinsÕ stage, danced in the Ramskellar (thank you very much Class of Ô68), jogged around EdwardÕs Parade and communed in Church on Sunday nights. My memories are alive and emotionally connected forever to Fordham. . . . Could there be an effort to welcome us, my gender and generation, to share in the affection which the editors celebrate in TRADITION.Ó . . . Henry Ricardo Ô64 argues that the refrain ÒHail, men of Fordham! Hail!Ó is clearly sexist. ÒA reflection of Fordham life when it was written in the early 1900s, but no longer conscionable.Ó . . . George Dean Ô66 suggests greater sensitivity to alumni and alumnae, as well as to the important issues of our time. . . . Julie Monahan Ô82 writes, ÒThe RamÕs ÔHail men of Fordham! HailÕ is sexist as well as unfair and inaccurate. . . . hundreds . . . of your readers, including me, are struggling to get a grip. But its probably due to rage rather than a tenuous grasp of their sanity.Ó . . . Michael S. OÕBrien Ô78 writes that Ò(TRADITION) would probably benefit from getting more contributions from (alumnae). . . . I believe that the mutual benefits to both (TRADITION) and our (alumnae) would best be served in this way. Furthermore, it might encourage our (alumnae) to make contributions that are more ÔrelevantÕ.Ó . . . Phyllis Nasta Ô71 writes ÒYour remarks . . . epitomize . . . the inherent and unconscious sexism which we Catholic girls were forced to put up with. . . . Your type of person gladly dismisses criticisms . . . as unreasonable and unwarranted. . . . all of the publications received by alumni are replete with stories about men. Women come in a long second place in Fordham. . . . whoever wrote the Ôget a gripÕ line is cynical and pathetic. Life is too short and precious to hold on to attitudes which put any group down because of gender, race etc. ÔHail, People of FordhamÕ wouldnÕt be such a big challenge, would it?Ó . . . Ralph DeMayo Ô51 says, ÒI told you not to do it.Ó . . . Karyn Corlett Ô93 sees Ònothing wrong with TRADITIONÓ and wonders what Òthe fussÓ is all about. . . . Frank DÕOnofrio, Jr. Ô64 cautions that Òone should not tamper with TRADITION.Ó . . . Thomas Canning Ô48 wonders what the P.C. police will eventually mandate. . . . Joan Mazzonelli Ô72 writes ÒItÕs always great to receive TRADITION. . . . I think ÔHail, men of Fordham! Hail!Õ is just fine as it is. At the same time, I am heartily with Ms. Strocchia-Rivera in finding TRADITION fairly sexist - with all . . . about the Glee Club reunion . . . DoesnÕt anyone have fond memories of the WomenÕs Chorale. . . . I sometimes feel as if I was graduated from a non-existent college. I look back on my university experience with very fond thoughts - but distinctly remember a double standard at every level.Ó . . . Nancy Chism Ô69 writes ÒI found your remarks on changing the lyrics to the Fordham fight song flippant and insensitive, . . . It is disheartening for me to see evidence that Fordham still tolerates a chilly climate for women and evidently hasnÕt progressed much since the early TMC years. To be constructive: how about ÔHail, Rams of Fordham, hailÕ as a substitution for the present first line? . . . But I do appreciate getting TRADITION otherwise.Ó . . . Amy Zeisz Ô89 agrees wholeheartedly with Nancy ChismÕs sentiments and applauds her but also enjoys receiving TRADITION. . . . Jim OÕGrady Ô82 writes ÒGood show old chap. We wouldnÕt want those pesky women barging into our hallowed athletic fight-song. Next thing you know, theyÕll be wanting to join the college! Tut tut tut. A-Hrmmph. Pass the sherry. By the way, what do you give our griddersÕ chances of making the Rose Bowl this year?Ó

While TRADITION continues to believe that Ignatius Coveny Ô06 did not write the words ÒHail men of Fordham! Hail!Ó intending to exclude anyone, the perception of the refrain and the meaning we give to the words are a matter of individual interpretation. The Fordham community should sing the song in a way which shows respect to our great university and to all members of the Fordham family. Finally, TRADITION encourages alumnae to contribute to its pages so that all graduates and friends of Fordham feel welcomed and involved.

Congratulations to the classes of 1989, 1984, 1979, 1974, 1969, 1964, 1959, 1954, 1949 and 1944 who celebrate at the Jubilee Weekend from June 3 to June 5, 1994. Contact Daria Philip of the Jubilee Office (212-636 6574) for details.

TRADITION: Minister of Propaganda: George P. McKeegan Ô69; Contributing Editors: William J. Healy Ô30, William H. Power, Jr.Õ33, Barrett McGurn Ô35, Francis X. Holbrook, Ph.D. Ô49 and Edward J. Buckley Ô81.

BOARD OF THE FORDHAM COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION: President: Jack Walton Ô72; Vice-Presidents: Patrick Burke Ô63, Mary Ellen Hoffman Ô81, William Banks Ô48, John Macisco Ô58, Catherine McGuinness Ô83; Secretary: John McCarthy Ô88; Treasurer: Christian LeBris Ô68; Directors: William Connell Ô66, Pattick Foye Ô66, Edward Leahey Ô41, Lisa Zangara Ô90, Gerald Haggerty Ô60, Kelly Brown Ô88, Joseph Cantwell Ô70, Raymond OÕRourke Ô77, Janet Ozarchuk Ô78, Denise Gaffney Ô91, William McSherry Ô69, William Flatley Ô56, Patrick Dunleavey Ô84, Bernard Dengler Ô57 and William Ford Ô60.