TRADITION

. . . the newsletter of the Fordham College Alumni Association

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

September 1993

Beneath bright, sunny skies at FordhamÕs 148th Commencement on May 22, 1993, Peter Steinfels, religion editor for The New York Times, advised Catholic universities to maintain their religious identity and defy the trend toward secular higher education. Steinfels said Catholic colleges add immeasurably to the cultural diversity and intellectual strength of the country, Òthe life of the mind and the life of society.Ó He said religious institutions of higher education, whether founded by ÒBaptists at Baylor, the Methodists at Emory and SMU, the Jews at Yeshiva and Brandeis, the Mormons at Brigham Young,Ó should foster scholarship within their own religious traditions. ÒOtherwise pluralism ceases to be genuinely plural but degrades into a bland oneness.Ó

The University awarded honorary doctoral degrees to Mr. Steinfels; Msgr. Myles M. Bourke, pastor emeritus of Corpus Christi Church in Manhattan, a noted biblical scholar and former chairman of the editorial board of the New Testament for the New American Bible; Judith Jamison, artistic director of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and a member of the advisory board to the College at Lincoln Center; Robert V. Remini Ô43, professor emeritus of history and research professor emeritus of humanities at the University of Illinois at Chicago, a prolific scholar, biographer and historian who is acknowledged as the nationÕs authority on the Jacksonian Era; Margaret OÕBrien Steinfels, author of WhoÕs Minding the Children? The History and Politics of Day Care in America and chief editor of Commonweal magazine, an independent and influential biweekly journal of political, religious and literary opinion, and Bert W. M. Twaalfhoven Ô52, president and founder of N.V. Indivers, Amsterdam and founder of some thirty-seven companies that employ 1,200 people in eight countries.

TRADITION congratulates the Class of 1993, a class noted for its commitment to community service, and welcomes it to the Alumni Association.

RAMembrances. On hearing the Glee ClubÕs rendition of ÒThe Ram,Ó at its recent reunion, Ed Leahey Ô41 recalled that Ignatius Coveny Ô06 composed the song in Mary DalyÕs home on Decatur Avenue on her upright piano. Mary, Òa spinster ladyÓ who was a friend of EdÕs grandparents, lived with her brother and took in boarders from Fordham College. Coveny was one of them. Mary was very proud that Coveny had composed ÒThe RamÓ on her piano, and, when she sold her home, she donated the battered upright to the University. The upright was polished and tuned and sat for many years in the office of the Father President. However, it was not present when Ed last visited the President's office.

In these gender sensitive times, Ralph DeMayo Ô51 has expressed concern that ÒThe RamÓ with its refrain ÒHail men of Fordham! Hail!Ó is unfair and inaccurate. TRADITION urges Ralph to get a grip. As used by Coveny, the term ÒmenÓ is hardly gender specific but broadly refers to all students, alumni and friends of Fordham. In any event, Ralph, one should not tamper with a work of art.

In recognition of her feminist theological interpretation, She Who Is: The Mystery of God in Feminist Theological Discourse, a book on the mystery of God, building a bridge between traditional wisdom in Jewish and Christian sources and feminist sources, Elizabeth A. Johnson, C.S.J., associate professor of theology, has received the prestigious 1993 Louisville Grawemeyer Award in Theology. Johnson said she believed her book was being acknowledged not just for what she had done Òbut in recognition of the voices of women that had been so long silenced in the church and marginalized in theology.Ó

The Faculty. Quamrul Haider, assistant professor of physics, has published the paper ÒFourier or Bessel transformations of highly oscillatory functionsÓ in the Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General . . . . James Heilbrun, professor of economics, attended the seventh international Conference on Cultural Economics in Fort Worth, Texas, where he presented a paper, ÒInnovation in Art, Innovation in Technology, and the Future of the High Arts.Ó . . . Myrian D. Maayan, adjunct associate professor of history, has published the article, ÒThe ÔFeminineÕ in Contemporary French Critical Discourse on the Consumer Society and UtilitarianismÓ in Contemporary French Civilization. . . . Astrid OÕBrien, associate professor of philosophy, published the article ÒMetaphysics as a Spiritual Journey: Thomas AcquinasÕ Doctrine of Resolution,Ó in Conflict and Community: New Studies in Thomistic Thought. . . . Daniel J. Sullivan, S.J., professor of biology, participated in a symposium on Biological Control of Insect Pests at the annual National Meeting of the Entomological Society of America and spoke on ÒThe Berkeley Legacy: From Aphids in California to Mealybugs in Africa and South America.Ó . . . Shapoor Vali, assistant professor of economics, will publish a paper entitled ÒSimulation Evidence Bearing on the Structure of Errors in Multiregional Input-Output AnalysisÓ in the Journal of Environment and Panning A. . . . Anne Anastasi, professor emerita of psychology, has published ÒThe Gap Between Experimental and Psychometric OrientationÓ in the Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences. . . . Avery Dulles, S.J., Laurence J. McGinley Professor of Religion and Society, lectured on ÒHumanae Vitae and the Crisis of DissentÓ at the twelfth BishopsÕ Workshop in Dallas, Texas. . . . Stewart E. Guthrie, professor of anthropology, published Faces in the Clouds: A New Theory of Religion . . . Carmen Bambach Cappel, assistant professor of art history, published ÒA Substitute Cartoon for RaphaelÕs Disputa,Ó in Master Drawings. She has received a research grant from the American Philosophical Society to continue her investigation of RaphaelÕs workshop practice.

Fordham is one of fifteen institutions nationwide to receive a 1992 GTE Focus Grant. The funds will be used to finance research fellowships in the sciences aimed at high potential undergraduates who are members of minority groups. . . . The University has received $9 million in New York State funds to establish a regional education technology center in the new University library to be built on Rose Hill. . . .Kate Masterson '93 has won a Gugenheim Fellowship and will study in Venice next year.

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 two dinners in the Fall 1993 semester and two dinners in the Spring 1994 semester. Contact Mike OÕNeill of Alumni Relations (212-636-6527) for further information.

Reader John McCauley Ô41 writes that TRADITION is Ògreat, and I look forward eagerly for its delivery,Ó but he disputes information in the January 1993 issue that Fordham defeated Boston College in the football game of 1932. John recalls that B.C. won the game, which was played at Fenway Park, 3-0 on a drop kick. . . . Patrick McDonald Ô91 writes that TRADITIONÕs Òsense of humor intertwined with historical anecdotes always provides entertaining and enlightening reading.Ó . . . John Chervokas Ô59 protests that the kind words about him in the March 1993 issue were simply not effusive enough. He emphatically denies that he alone is responsible for TRADITION and blames Nick OÕNeill Ô57 for implementing his idea for an alumni newsletter. . . .Lenore Strocchia-Rivera Ô81 finds TRADITION Òboring . . . irrelevant and sexistÓ and notes that, of the names cited in the January 1993 issue, only 4% were female. She invites feedback to her concerns and observations.

According to USA TODAY, Fordham boasts the third highest graduation rate of athletes in the country.

Cold gusts forced the wind chill factor below freezing on Franklin Field in Philadelphia as Lauren Gubicza Ô93 stepped to the line to defend her championship in the college womenÕs 3,000 meter run at the 99th annual Penn Relays. When the gun sounded, runners from Clemson and Michigan raced to the lead of the pack of six. Lauren stayed wide right, nearly in the second lane, in good tactical position, away from the pack. Midway through the race, other runners faded, and Lauren and the Michigan runner distanced themselves from the pack. Just before the bell for the final lap, Lauren made her move and began her kick, but the Michigan runner responded and took back the lead. As the leaders raced around the final turn, Lauren thought only, ÒI want to win the Penn Relays.Ó She responded to the Michigan runner, raced from behind for a second time and pulled away as the runners hit the final straightaway. Her knees kicked high, and her long strides closed the distance to the finish line. Moments later, as the raw wind continued to beat across the field, the runners crossed the line and the meet announcer reported in crisp, rich tones: ÒLadies and gentlemen, defending her championship, Lauren Gubicza, Fordham University.Ó

The Sports Page. Lady Rams swim team co-captain Lorraine Grein, who won the 400m individual medley and the 200m individual backstroke races at the MET Championships, the Patriot League Championships and the Eastern Championships, was named the most valuable swimmer at all three meets. She concludes her career on Rose Hill as the school recordholder in five individual and five team events. TRADITION hereby names Lorraine to the all-time all-Fordham swim team . . . The National Collegiate Rowing Committee has selected Gina Greer Ô94 and Alex Gress Ô95 as Academic All-Americans.

With his team struggling on the eve of an important doubleheader against Army, Ram baseball coach Dan Gallagher promised his charges that, if they swept the games, he would shave his head bald. The Rams took the doubleheader, and Gallagher shaved himself bald.

To keep his pitchers at ease the night before games, Gallagher does not tell them who is going to pitch until he gets the ball from the umpire. Then, he rubs it up, looks around, flips it to one of his pitchers and tells him, ÒTake the ball.Ó Says Gallagher, ÒI think itÕs a lot less stressful on them.Ó

In an introspective moment, Ram baseball coach Dan Gallagher observes, ÒWhen I am on the field, you see very little emotion . . . ThereÕs no give-and-take with me . . . What I teach these kids is that the only person they have to be responsible for is themselves. If you get that through, they might be successful. A lot of my players donÕt like me. They dislike me a lot, but, after they leave college, I get an awful lot of calls and letters from them. I know it is hard to deal with a person like me, but I think discipline is the only way to look at things.Ó Gallagher is 258-187 in his ten seasons on Rose Hill and has averaged 32 wins in each of the last four years.

With two out in the bottom of the ninth and the bases loaded, at the Eastern Championships in Waterbury, Connecticut, a bid to the NCAA championships was on the line for the RamsÕ baseball team. The season, although flawed by a series of losses against national competition, had nonetheless been marked by the RamsÕ resilience. Now, with the Rams behind LeMoyne 14-13 and the count at 1 and 2 on Jerry Geigle Ô95, the Rams needed to make one more break. Geigle took a pitch for a ball and then fouled off the next four pitches as tension in the stands reached an unbearable peak. ÒI wasnÕt going to let anything by me,Ó said Geigle. ÒI had to get a hit.Ó He hit the next pitch softly to rightfield but in a tantalizing spot just beyond the reach of LeMoyneÕs second baseman and rightfielder. Racing home on the hit, Alex Tejera Ô93 tied the game and Shawn Harris Ô94 scored the winning run as the Rams mobbed Geigle. ÒThis rally was the best thing IÕve ever been a part of,Ó declared Harris. ÒWe refused to be beaten. No one ever lets us down. This team wins like no other.Ó Ram baseball coach Dan Gallagher, who was last seen dancing in the rain near the top of the Municipal Stadium grandstand, could only say, ÒIt wasnÕt pretty, . . . but they always seem to come through.Ó

RAMology. During much of The College's history, the Jesuit fathers imposed a harsh parietal rule which restricted the male boarders' ability to entertain young ladies in their dormitory rooms. During the 1960s, in an outburst of indulgence, administrators at some colleges allowed young ladies to visit dormitories but required boarders to keep the doors of their rooms completely open when the young ladies were inside. Because boarders at those colleges complained that they had contracted illnesses caused by drafts from the open doors, the administrators eventually agreed that the boarders would henceforth be required to keep their doors open only the width of a book. The administrators identified the book in question as The Bible; however, the boarders argued that the book was actually a used matchbook. Many boarders suffered under the parietal rule; however, the Jesuits at Fordham were uncompromising in its application.

The Class of 1968 insists that it revolutionized life on Rose Hill. It cites Thomas More College, the drafting of the United Student Government Constitution, the opening of the Ramskellar and Billy Langheld's '68 jumpshot. But, in the eyes of many, John Durkay '68, the president of the Boarder Council, made the Class' most significant contribution to the quality of life on Rose Hill when, during a Beach Boys concert in November 1967, he climbed the stage, took control of the microphone and announced that, by unanimous vote, the Boarder Council had abolished the parietal rule on campus. Durkay's announcement had an immediate effect and succeeded in lessening the congestion at the concert as several boarders and their dates returned to rooms in MartyrsÕ Court. Thereafter, MartyrsÕ Court enjoyed a renaissance as male boarders cleaned and decorated their rooms in anticipation of young ladies whom, they were sure, would shortly visit. The Boarder Council took complete credit for the abolition of the rule and never revealed that it had previously voted, without effect, to abolish the rule and that the abolition had effect only because the Jesuit fathers had agreed to it the previous summer.

Mark this date in maroon! Chairmen Michael Mullarney Ô68 and Steve DeGroat Ô72 announce that the annual Fordham Golf Classic at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York will be held on Monday, October 4, 1993. A limited number of reservations and sponsorships are still available. Contact Julio Diaz of the Department of Athletics (718-817-4306) for details.

Legacy. The Admissions Office invites children, grandchildren and friends of alumni to an Open House in the McGinley Center on Sunday, November 14, 1993. Contact Jason Zajac (212-636-6710) of the Admissions Office for details.

All in favor, please say, ÒAye!Ó The nomination committee of the Board of the Alumni Association has nominated as president: John C. Walton Ô72; as vice-presidents: Patrick Burke Ô63, Mary Ellen Hoffman Ô81, William Banks Ô48, John Macisco Ô58 and Catherine McGuinness Ô83; as secretary: John McCarthy Ô88; as treasurer: Christian Lebris Ô68, and as directors: 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. Please cast your ballots in care of TRADITION by September 15, 1993.

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.