Dan the Doc

Fall Faculty Workshop

2011-08-23T07:04:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe that classes start tomorrow! My last few weeks were consumed with teaching an intensive five weeks summer course and then getting things ready for the Fall semester. Unfortunately one of our retired Jesuit faculty who had been assigned to teach an elective on Sacraments needs to take some extra time off and so I had to pick up his course. While I'm qualified to teach the course, I've had to spend lots of time prepping for it and building a webpage for the course.

Yesterday we had our Fall Faculty Workshop during which we discussed our mission, pedagogy, and the up-coming re-accreditation process that happens every ten years. Rockhurst faculty are commited to offering high-quality education that ever adapts to the needs of students in a changing global environment.

I look forward to an exciting semester and year!

Graduating to the Next Level

2011-05-23T10:17:00.000-05:00

Well it's that time of year when students graduate and go off into the great beyond. For many, it truly is going beyond, beyond their previous confines, comfort levels, accomplishments. One student of mine, Andew Wessling, who is a cool and zany guy, is entering into the Master's Program at Creighton University, a fellow Jesuit institute, and will be part of the Magis Program. Magis is the Latin word for "more" that encapsulates the Jesuit ideal of continuing growth in excellence. Andrew, while pursuing his Masters in Education, will be working at a Catholic high school in South Dakota on an Indian Reservation, serving as an English teacher and soccer coach. http://www.creighton.edu/magis/

The spirit of magis and cura personalis, care for the whole person, pervades the student experience at Rockhurst University. A Rockhurst education is not an end in itself but a door to new beginnings and continued development. Check out how our program can prepare you to realize your future dreams. http://www.rockhurst.edu/

All the best to all of our graduates!

"Doc"

The Road to Service

2011-05-05T09:16:00.001-05:00

Where did April go? Well, besides the Royal Wedding on April 29th, I had something else to celebrate. One of my Department members Dr. Bill Stancil, received the prestigious Harry B. Kies Award for outstanding service. He was commemorated at the annual Faculty Dinner that evening.

Bill has served the university in innumerable ways some of which are being a Department Chair, Chairing the Rank and Tenure Committee, and being the Director of the Rockhurst University Press. Thanks to his selfless work, our centennial book, Rockhurst University the First 100 Years, was a success. He likewise contributed significantly to our centennial celebrations. Bill truly embodies our Jesuit values of service, magis, and cura personalis.

This same spirit is inculcated in our students. The road to service is the road to personal enrichment and fulfillment. By walking on such a path one leads by example and inspires others. Rockhurst students have many opportunites to be engaged in Service Learning projects. Check us out.

http://www.rockhurst.edu/services/service/index.asp

Shaken to the Core

2011-03-21T09:52:00.002-05:00

I think a lot of us have been shaken to the core with the 9.0 earthquake, subsequent tsunami, and now the danger of nuclear meltdowns. The event was so profound that it even shook the Earth's axis and now our tilt towards the sun has been changed. A lot to ponder.

While I hardly wish to diminish the reality and human tragedy that has transpired and continues to unfold, or to ignore the practically miraculous discovery of survivors eight and more days afterwards, this whole thing about the Earth's axis changing has caused me to think, and even philosophize.

What events have shaken me to the core and caused me to get off balance or re-orientate my relationships? Sometimes being shaken to the core can be a good thing. Maybe I was already off-balance and teetering in a dangerous path and needed to be re-alligned. Or what things do I let shake me up more than they need to?

It just amazes me that the Earth itself was so deeply impacted that it's orbit has changed, even if ever so slightly. But WOW! Causes me to think about what lies at the core of my being and what I value. And of course I could be really cheesey and talk about Rockhurst and its core values etc, but I don't mean this as a "sales pitch" whatsoever. I mean, Think about it—the Earth's orientation has changed! How often does that happen? Yes, there was a previous quake that had such an impact as well. But moving planets is not an everyday occurence. It can serve as an opportunity to pause and reflect upon life itself. Life is a very precious and wondrous thing. Embrace life. (And I'd encourage you to help support our fellow human beings [and other life forms—What about that dog protecting its wounded friend?] in Japan.)

All the best, Daniel

Competitive Edge

2011-03-07T08:02:00.003-06:00

What will make YOU stand out from the crowd of 2011 graduates in the job market?

To help in that daunting task,

Rockhurst University is launching a new two-week early summer program. It's called the Summer Business Camp—Mensch Management. This is for NON-BUSINESS majors (juniors and seniors) to help you learn the basics and the language of business in areas such as ethics, accounting, finance, economics, marketing, as well as leadership. As we all know, most often the bottom line is $$$ so being able to navigate in a tough economy is essential.

The program lasts May 16-27, meeting all day with some evenings, plus Saturday morning. You'll get hands on experience meeting with CEOs and a seasoned team. The Certificate can help strengthen your resumé.

If interested, follow this link or on Facebook search for Mensch Management.

http://cte.rockhurst.edu/s/945/faculty.aspx?sid=945&gid=1&pgid=2120

And see what Rockhurst can do for you! Open to non-Rockhurst students.

666 & the Mark of the Beast

2011-02-16T07:04:00.003-06:00

New Release

Besides delivering conference papers and writing articles, Rockhurst University faculty also publish books. Here's my first academic book in print which I'll incorporate into my Book of Revelation class.

Read what some endorses have said about it:
"Daniel Stramara whirls his way through Revelation, imaginatively unfolding a complex web of intriguing possibilities to argue that Revelation draws from liturgical lections associated with the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost). Read along—it's certainly a fun ride."
—Warren Carter
Professor of New Testament Brite Divinity School

"Daniel F. Stramara, in his engaging new work, God's Timetable, sheds light on many of the exegetical enigmas in the Book of Revelation. Stramara reads Revelation within the liturgical context of the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost (Shavu'ot), a festival whose apocalyptic significance is attested by other important Jewish writings of John's time. Ultimately, Stramara's work reveals a community very much at home in the world of first century Judaism."
—Paul B. Duff Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies The George Washington University

"As strange as it may seem, some two millennia after the writing of the Book of Revelation we now have a work that provides an original and convincing account of the meaning of the last book of the Bible. In this blockbuster, Daniel Stramara deciphers some of the most mysterious and puzzling images in Revelation. Carefully grounded in Jewish and Christian scholarship, God's Timetable will be a standard against which future works on Revelation will be measured."
—Wilburn T. Stancil Professor of Theology and Religious Studies Rockhurst University

"While many recent studies on the Apocalypse focus on the resistance of Christians to Empire, Daniel Stramara challenges readers to interpret the Apocalypse in its Jewish setting. His placement of the Apocalypse in the context of the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) is both compelling and convincing. By proposing the Feast of Weeks as a hermeneutical key for understanding the theological and ideological focus of the Apocalypse, Stramara opens a new window and lets in fresh light on this enigmatic work."
—David M. May Professor of New Testament Central Baptist Theological Seminary

If you're interesed in getting a copy follow this link:
http://wipfandstock.com/store/Gods_Timetable_The_Book_of_Revelation_and_the_Feast_of_Seven_Weeks/

Here's a list of other books published by my departmental colleagues:
http://www.rockhurst.edu/academic/theology/scholarship.asp

Rockhurst faculty are expected to be deeply engaged in teaching, scholarship, and service.

Blizzard Babies

2011-02-01T06:30:00.001-06:00

Bring it on!

Well, once again Rockhurst University is closed due to bad weather. This time the blizzard of 2011 that's supposed to be a whopper striking about 3/4 of the nation in some way or another.

Of course you know what that means: November there's going to be a baby boom! This'll be good news for Rockhurst's enrollment in eighteen years! Hopefully that crop of blizzard babies will be a hardy breed, poised to learn how to weather whatever gets thrown at them.

That's actually the over-arching thrust of Rockhurst right now: preparing young men and women for whatever life throws at them by giving them a well-rounded and well-grounded education in the Catholic Jesuit academic tradition. The Catholic Church has endured the many storms and major events of history and managed to find a stability, and ability to survive by adaptation.

So why don't you check us out? http://www.rockhurst.edu/
And we have a pretty gnarly Nursing Program as well through the Research College of Nursing, ready to deliver all those blizzard babies! http://www.researchcollege.edu/

Blizzard

2011-01-19T15:00:00.003-06:00

Like a blizzard, students returned to Rockhurst and blanketed the campus with their friendly presence. The dorms and hallways are once again astir with youthful vibrancy. As I write, the KC Metro area is to get between 4 to 7 inches of snow and so I anticipate some good snowball fights on the quad, as well as greeting partially wet students tomorrow morning in my classes.

Rockhurst University rarely cancels classes because the majority of the student body lives here. I have a Nissan Sentra with front wheel drive and so usually don't have much of a problem making it in. We'll see.

It's nice seeing things all fresh and white. What a great new start to the semester.

Recognition

2011-01-03T07:35:00.001-06:00

Well another year has started and I’m sure it will be a lot like the last one. In reflecting over the past, one need’s to recognize what one wishes to foster or improve. Towards the close of Dec 2010 I was notified that my blog spot was recognized in the following article: "Top 50 Blogs by Theology Professors", wherein Dan the Doc is listed at #3. Check it out: ( http://www.masteroftheology.org/top-50-blogs-by-theology-professors.html#3 ). So I obviously have my work cut out for me to stay in the Top 50! I was surprised by the honor but obviously couldn’t have received the recognition without you the readers.

That’s the thing about recognition, it’s never a solo enterprise; it necessitates communal involvement. Rockhurst University gets a lot of recognition for its various achievements whether due to its faculty, student body, or staff. With the New Year just unfolding I’d encourage you to check out Rockhurst University as an academic community of distinction, and consider paying us a visit. I’m sure the next year holds lots of opportunities for celebration and excellence. Have a good one! All the best. Dan the Doc

http://www.rockhurst.edu/

Silence

2010-12-14T14:23:00.001-06:00

If it were not for the silence in the hallways I wouldn't believe the semester is over already! Where did it go? This Fall came and went before I knew it.

This time of year is a time for silence and reflection. I hope you get the time (or make the time) to relax and reflect on all the goodness that you have experienced. Sometimes we get so busy we don't take the opportunity to reflect and be thankful, and to then cherish what is wholesome and life-giving. In the hectic pace, it's too easy to think about the stress and all the things that have gone wrong. During winter, earth takes a rest so that she might spring back with vibrancy.

May your winter break be restorative and give birth to renewed hope and joy.

World Cultures Day

2010-11-09T07:11:00.001-06:00

We just had World Cultures Day which is a day dedicated to celebrating various countries and cultures around the globe. I did a table on Ethiopia because I had spent a month there about five years ago. I cooked Eythiopian Chicken Stew known as Doro Wat. This past World Cultures Day over fifty countries were represented. I also got a table going for England, Scotland, and Wales once I heard no one was doing those countries. That's the adjoining table to the right above. See the pic below. I managed to drum up some help from my colleague Dr. Alan Douglas who is from Scotland and now a US citizen, and one of his students who is Wlesh and has been to Wales also pitched in.

World Cultures Day is a fun event when people come to together and work together, honoring differences and rich diversity. Rockhurst University strives to show how we are part of the global community. Even our curriculum has a Global Perspectives Requirement with several courses having a global component. Then there are some courses which are strictly Global Studies oriented.

I Spy on Steroids

2010-09-21T16:16:00.000-05:00

Well our family went for a walk Sunday afternoon and my wife and I were blown away! Our seven year old daughter loves to play "I Spy" and she said, "I spy with my little eye something beginning with the letter 'G'." My wife and I tried and tried to no avail and had to beg for a clue. The clue was "It is something which is invisible and really can't be seen." My wife exclaimed: "Well, then how are we supposed to see it and guess it?" Our daughter giggled to her hearts content. My wife blurted out: "Gravity." No. I forget what things I came up with besides "gas." It went on and on and on until we gave up. We got another clue, "It can be seen in the trees." Huh? No idea. The answer: "Gap!"

Not to be outdone by a seven year old, I came up with: "I spy with my little eye something beginning with the letter "s," but it's tricky." Ou daughter asked, "Is it on a house?" My reply, "It can be." They eventually asked, "Can it be elsewhere?" I replied, "Yes." They eventually begged for the next letter. I said, "Aha, that's important, 'h'." I todl my daughter, "I know you can get this." She eventually did: "shadow."

She came back with, "I spy with my little eye something beginning with the letter 'S' and it's always found on a surface." We tried and tried. I begged for the next letter. She replied "C." I asked if it were hard or soft. "Hard." That didn't help and of course by that time we had walked past the original thing. She said, "It quite often is found in a museum." Aargh. I begged for the next sound. "ool" HUH? The answer "Sculpture!"

So what's in your mind? How do YOU perceive the world? Part of a Rockhurst education delves into that very dynamic: perception. The Liberal Arts program offers seven different perspectives on viewing and interpreting the world and our experiences. Check us out. http://www.rockhurst.edu/academic/deansoffice/liberalcore.asp

Half a Million Dollars & Service w/ a Smile

2010-08-30T09:05:00.001-05:00

One of the things that is part of a Rockhurst University education is getting involved in community service. One of our Greek sororities, the Zetas, has taken on the task of promoting the local Catholic school of Our Lady of the Presentation in Lee's Summit, MO that serves grades kindergarten through 8. Kohl's Cares for Kids is running a contest to see which private school in the nation can get the most votes. Presently (to my knowledge) Our Lady of the Presentation is ranked #15. The top 20 schools in the nation with the most votes will each be awarded HALF A MILLION DOLLARS!

Because the closing date is September 3rd (2010), one can't take being in 15th place as a shoe-in. That can change hour by hour. To vote, follow this link and keep in mind that you are allowed (and encouraged!) to vote FIVE TIMES. http://www.voteolp.com/

I live in Lee's Summit and this is the Roman Catholic parish I attend when I'm not attending the Byzantine Catholic parish which is nearby in Sugar Creek. (To find out about that church—which doesn't run a school—check out this link: http://easterncatholicskc.blogspot.com/ )

Rockhurst University gets quite involved in the local community and has all sorts of Service Learning projects. Check us out. http://www.rockhurst.edu/services/service/index.asp

Back At It

2010-08-27T11:19:00.001-05:00

Well we're back at it. I can't believe more than a full week of classes has come and gone! I'm once again teaching Intro to NT Greek and the students are awesome. They're catching on pretty quick. It's a fun class. I have 25 students.

I'm also teaching the Honor's version of TH 1000, and that group is really great as well. So we're off to a good start.

Yesterday I met with a prospective student who's a senior in St. Louis who's thinking about majoring in theology. While theology might not be your thing, definitely think about coming to Rockhurst University to check out the wide range of majors and programs we offer and all the exciting classes.

And don't miss our Centennial bash! http://www.rockhurst.edu/centennial/index.asp

Where's the doc, Doc?

2010-07-27T14:30:00.005-05:00

News from the hole; seems like I’m crawling out of one! This summer since being back from a two week vacation visiting family in England, I’ve been teaching the 2nd summer session. It’s a five week intensive version of the regular 14 week long semester course. I’ve also been working on my application (a huge portfolio) for promotion to the highest academic rank, that of Professor; I’m presently an Associate Professor.

Every year each faculty member must file an annual report, specifying what had been accomplished during the previous year regarding teaching, scholarship, and service. This is so one can reflect upon one’s academic work, and think of ways in which to improve. The annual report is a method of self-assessment. The faculty at Rockhurst University are deeply committed to teaching, scholarship, and service. In my applying for promotion it has allowed me to reflect on the past five years and all that I have accomplished, as well as all of the goals I set before myself. This July I was also made Chair of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies for the next three years. The future is quite exciting and will afford me many opportunities to serve our students, especially majors.

So now I need to return to working on my application, my “doc.” In the meantime, why don’t you check out what my department has to offer, as well as Rockhurst University.

http://www.rockhurst.edu/academic/theology/index.asp

Detour

2010-07-07T11:38:00.005-05:00

Well it's summertime. Summer classes are in session and various groups are here for summer camp at Rockhurst University. So what are you doing this summer? How 'bout taking a trip to check out Rockhurst? It could be a day trip, or a stop while you're on to some place else. Sure you're just goin' to be a senior next year, but before ya know it, it'll be time to send out applications in the Fall. Ee gads, that's right! You can start applying for college as soon as late Fall. So when are ya gonna get all those trips booked in to check out schools? Now's a perfect opportunity to talk Mom & Dad into taking a trip to KC which has lots of fun things to do. And while you're in KC, drop by campus. Of course, it's always best to contact us ahead of time and set up a personalized tour of the place.

And of course, like those blasted roads that are down to one lane due to improvements, there might be some things torn up on campus to make improvements while the swarms of students are away. But isn't that what summer is all about? Detours? So make a detour to the Rock.

http://www.rockhurst.edu/admission/topnav/visit/index.asp

Dr. Katie Madigan Knighted!

2010-06-11T08:57:00.005-05:00

On 3 June 2010 Dr. M. Kathleen Madigan, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Professor of Modern Languages, was knighted by the French Government. Once a year the French Government accords the Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques to one recipient, occasionally from each country. Established in 1808 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Academic Palms is the oldest civilian accolade and one of the highest honors awarded by the French Government to recognize individuals for distinguished contributions to the promotion of the French language and culture. The Ordre des Palmes Académiques is an Order of Chivalry of France for those in the spheres of academia, culture, and education. The French minister of national education recommends nominees to the French prime minister, who, if in agreement, issues an official decree naming recipients.

Rockhurst University congratulates Dr. Madigan on this high honor and international recognition!

Dr. Madigan is pictured above on the right wearing the blue pendant and gold palms, with Dr. Stramara on the far left, accompanied by his wife Clare, and their daughter Julianna.

Paper Trail

2010-04-28T07:17:00.005-05:00

Well it's already that time of year to turn in research papers. Hard to believe the Spring semester is drawing to a close. As a proff I get lots of last minute e-mails needing help on finding more sources, explaining a confusing apparent contradiction in information found, etc. That's part of the whole Rockhurst learning experience--helping students one-on-one. A good indicator of how a university really treats its students is how they treat them when the going gets tough, or when students are facing stress and perhaps personal and/or family issues during the year.

One of Rockhurst University's Jesuit values is cura personalis, care for the whole person. Rockhurst is not an "education factory" where we merely mass produce graduates. Rockhurst is a learning community where attention is given to the whole person.

In fact, Rockhurst even has a slick wellness e-bulletin that offers students advise and equips them with skills. Check it out: http://readsh101.com/rockhurst.html

The Dust Never Settles

2010-03-30T08:20:00.004-05:00

Can’t believe how much time has blown by, yes BLOWN! We had mid-terms so I was busy grading those tests and then immediately after that we were in Spring Break and I was in at the office everyday working from 6:30 AM until 4:30PM, including Saturday. Why? No I’m not a glutton for punishment, it’s just that a manuscript I had written for a book has been accepted for publication and I’ve been swamped trying to edit it and make it conform to Pickwick Publications House Style and be ready for the typesetter. So it’s a good “problem.”

The dust never settles. Of course, I’ve been busy with my regular Rockhurst responsibilities and family duties as well. But that’s what life’s all about: constant change and opportunities for growth. Sometimes it feels like a nice strong cooling wind, sometimes like a dust storm, or even whirlwind.

Here in the Midwest we get tornados, though KC hasn’t been hit by one in over 50 years. But one always needs to be prepared. That’s what a Liberal Arts education at a Jesuit university is all about, preparing you for whatever life throws at you. In the whirlwind of life you need to rooted enough so as not to be blown away, and at the same time know how to go with the flow and bend with the wind, rather than snap. Rockhurst University prepares students for what happens in life by addressing the full spectrum of being human: body, soul, and spirit. Secular universities can’t talk about the spiritual dimension of the human experience, but Rockhurst University can and does, fed by the rich Catholic and Jesuit tradition.

Check us out: http://www.rockhurst.edu/admission/topnav/visit/index.asp

http://www.rockhurst.edu/about/jesuitmission/values.asp

Olympians

2010-02-26T06:39:00.009-06:00

Don't know about you, but I've been trying to watch the Winter Games as much as possible. These athletes are amazing. What sets the Olympians apart from other contenders? They push the envelope; they compete on the edge.

One of the hallmarks of Jesuit education is the sense of magis. Magis means "more," but is much more than that. It embodies the notion of striving for excellence, maxing out--in the positive sense. Magis means the drive to reach your ultimate potential. The Rockhurst University experience provides the conditions in which students are challenged to reach their fullest, to stand on the podium of life, as it were. Granted, not everyone can get the gold, but not everyone has the chance to do the mogul run, or skate on the speed track, etc. Just to qualify for the Olympic Games is an awesome achievement in itself!

In one sense, Rockhurst trains students for the "extreme sport" called LIFE. Running the "rat race," etc, whatever one wants to call it; life is a constant set of challenges that invite us to excel and reach our fullest potential. A focus on the Liberal Arts in the Jesuit tradition caring for the whole person, is what sets Rockhurst a part.

Game on!

http://www.rockhurst.edu/about/jesuitmission/values.asp

BTW, one of our outstanding student athletes is Aaron Hill. He is one of the top five in the whole nation to receive the award for the 2009-10 ESPN The Magazine College Division First Team Academic All-American®. Way to go Aaron!!! Read about him:

http://www.rockhurst.edu/ru_athletics/news/AaronHillAAA2010.asp

A Wing and A Prayer

2010-01-19T12:58:00.004-06:00

Sometimes in life we're flying by the seat of our pants. Sometimes it's with a wing and a prayer. Check out this true video of a pilot who lost one wing while in flight and how he landed the plane safely! In that one moment the pilot needed to maintain his calm and pull together all the learning and experience he had ever had. While I'm not envisioning your life-experiences to be so catastrophic, a sound and thorough well-balanced education at Rockhurst University can prepare you to face whatever life throws at you and to maneuver your way through life's hurdles with calm, grace, and a solid footing. Our academic Liberal Arts Program is coupled with a grounding in Catholic Jesuit wisdom and spirituality. Our focus is on the whole person and thus quite distinct from a State school education that doesn't address the spiritual side of the human equation. At Rockhurst, things add up and become an integrated whole. Going elsewhere, you only get less. When life hits you hard and you're just left with a wing and a prayer, knowing how to pull on your comprehensive learning and to spiritually "wing it," helps.

Blizzard

2009-12-15T12:12:00.002-06:00

It's hard to believe but research papers, and finals week came and went in a flurry of activity. Today faculty turned in semester grades. The campus is silent and cold (the windchills here have been in the teens).

So Winter Break is here! Hannukah and Christmas and Kwanzaa and all the other festivities that one might wish to celebrate. It is a time to celebrate life, and cherish the life we have, and those whom we love.

Before you know it, boisterous voices and smiling faces will be filling the halls again and things will come back to life here at Rockhurst. Earth goes through her cycles of rest and recreation.

May your holiday season be filled with holy days and spiritual moments.

Dan the Doc

Sounds Like a Plan to Me!

2009-11-17T14:39:00.003-06:00

One of the signs of vitality is growth. Rockhurst University has a vision for growth in multiple areas, but the physical dimension gives concrete expression to the inner driving spirit. Rockhurst has a new proposed plan for growth that meets the needs of students, faculty and the local community.

Matt Heinrich, the Associate VP for Facilities and Technology just sent us this communiqué.

“After compiling the initial feedback, our architectural and engineering consulting team began to develop plans for the future of our campus. Along the way we had conversations with our surrounding neighborhood groups where we were all challenged to listen and understand, and to work together toward creating plans that will best serve the needs of our learning community and the greater community surrounding us. The result is a dynamic plan that is creating energy and enthusiasm among students, neighbors and the planning team. We believe that Rockhurst can play a vital role in revitalizing the Troost Avenue corridor.

You can view a preliminary plan drawing at http://www.rockhurst.edu/audience/commun/relations/masterplan.asp that shows what the central part of campus will look like. While this general concept has been approved, the architects continue to work on details and flesh out the concept. In addition to what you see in the drawing, two mixed-use parking garages with retail on the ground floor facing Troost Avenue will be constructed just north of Rockhurst Road and just south of 54th Street. We hope to soon post a map that shows the complete plan.

The timetable for beginning these projects is contingent on raising the appropriate funds to start construction. Plans for this are under way. We have created a phased plan that will allow us to work on buildings in order of critical need. At this time we anticipate the first phase to consist of: 1.) Parking garage and retail space on the northeast corner of Rockhurst Road and Troost 2.) New academic building 3.) Renovation of Sedgwick Hall 4.) New residence hall.”

So Rockhurst has plans for the future; come and be part of them.

Pizza with Pizzazz

2009-10-29T09:02:00.004-05:00

Last night our Department of Theology & Religious Studies had its social pizza party for prospective majors and minors. It’s that time of year when lots of departments promote themselves. As of last we possibly gained five new majors who now have to do the paper work and officially declare. Presently, we have 14 officially declared majors and 50 minors.

Many of our majors have a double major. One new one candidate, is even trying to do a quadruple major! At Rockhurst University because we run a Liberal Arts College it’s easy to graduate with a double major.

This time of year is also when we promote our Honor Societies. There are lots of groups to join.

Check out our catalog! http://www.rockhurst.edu/registrar/catalog/index.asp

My Oh Maya 2012

2009-10-12T11:04:00.004-05:00

Perhaps you’ve heard the hype that the Mayan Calendar “predicts” the end of the world in 2012. Well, the actuality is some non-Mayan thinkers influenced by Western civilization are foisting their worldview and presumptions upon a culture which entertained no such thoughts. In fact, the Mayan Calendar in actuality “talks” about the date 4772, long past the supposed apocalyptic end of the world (2012) as interpreted by some Western speculators. See this link.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33261483/ns/technology_and_science-science/

One of the things we do at Rockhurst University is require our students to take a Global Perspectives Requirement which immerses them in a non-American cultural perspective. It is essential that students recognize the danger of presuming everyone thinks like they do and holds to the same worldviews and ideologies. Healthy international dialogue, exchange, and global peace cannot exist if various parties fail to understand where the other is coming from, and what actual differences do exist, rather than supposed agreements and/or disagreements.

Rockhurst University supports a strong international perspective in courses as diverse as biology, economics, psychology, history, music, political science, business, english, management, and theology just to name a few. Check us out: http://www.rockhurst.edu/

Booked Solid

2009-09-25T07:10:00.005-05:00

Well I'm a bit late in getting this blog out. Why? because after fifteen years of research and two years of writing (in spurts) I'm finally finished my book on feminine images of God used by saints of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches. The book is pretty hefty because its so comprehensive canvassing writers from the first century through the twentieth. The texts were originally written in Syriac, Greek, Armenian, Latin, Italian, Spanish, French, and German. It took me quite awhile to translate them all. I just sent the prospectus out to the publisher yesterday and now begins the wait to see if my top pick publisher is interested.

Part of being a professor at Rockhurst University is doing scholarship. Our main focus is on teaching: communicating knowledge and fostering practical learning. Our second focus is on scholarship: advancing knowledge and fostering academic learning. Our third focus is on service: applying knowledge and fostering experiential learning. The whole enterprise is about the transformative and life-creating power of knowledge and wisdom. All three feed into one another and sustain one another. This Liberal Arts approach empowers a person to become a well-rounded and well-balanced person.

Well the buzzer went off this morning and woke me up. In the dream I was having at the moment, I was looking at myself laying in bed, DREAMING about getting more sleep. I think my body and psyche is telling me something! I'm looking forward to a nice long sleep in this Saturday morning, that's if our six year old daughter doesn't wake me/us up early.

Check out our Liberal Arts program at the Rock.

http://www.rockhurst.edu/academic/deansoffice/index.asp

http://www.rockhurst.edu/academic/deansoffice/liberalcore.asp

Test, Testing, Tested, but not Teased

2009-09-10T07:05:00.002-05:00

My students probably don't realize this, but I get nervous about the first test as well. Why? because I want them to do well and I wonder if I did a good enough job when prepping them for it. I try to make things as clear and up front as possible. They even have all six essay questions right up front. Don't panic, I only pick two essays out of the six, but they never know which two I'll pick. Then there's multiple choice; I try not to have any trick or misleading questions. I even try to throw in funny and ridiculous answers to help break their tension, all the time holding them to high standards.

But tests can be stressful for some people. That's why I break down all the semester's information into four tests, all bearing equal weight with no comprehensive final. In case, somebody doesn't do well on one test, they have three other opportunities. (Today and tomorrow all four of my classes have their first test.)

Rockhurst also has a Learning Center with great staff: students and hired professionals, who can help you improve your study habits and prep for tests. We also have a Counseling Center for stress management and that has ways to diagnose if you have some challenges that require a doctor's help whether with appropriate medication for anxiety or hyperactivity, or the need for extended test time in a quiet environment.

Bottom line, at Rockhurst University we're all here to help you do the best that you can do. We set high, yet attainable, goals and "push you" to achieve those goals, to learn new skills, and hone ones you already have.

Basically all of life is a test. How will you respond in this situation? How will you solve this problem? How will you innovate and improve on that?

Check us out, as well as our Learning and Counseling Centers.

http://www.rockhurst.edu/services/learning/index.asp

http://www.rockhurst.edu/studentlife/counsel/index.asp

Juggling Life

2009-08-27T13:26:00.004-05:00

Ok, watch this video (below) of an amazing female gymnast doing a floor exercise and catching and throwing a ball with either her hands or feet or legs and doing gymnastic tumbling all at the same time. Pretty cool stuff, if not downright awesome.

That kinda depicts my life, not that I’m that co-ordinated and graceful when juggling things in life, but it gives you a good impression of what it’s like being a professor. I teach of course, trying to foster learning in and out of the classroom. I chat with students who drop in. I serve on committees, two to be exact: I chair the Information Technology Committee and I serve as Modal Rep on the Core Implementation Committee that decides which courses should be given Core status in the university. I’m also the mentor of the Theta Alpha Kappa Honor Society for Theology and Religious Studies. Besides that I keep up a scholarly career of publishing about one to two articles per year and giving workshop lectures. I’m involved in the everyday university life and lots of behind the scenes things.

But when it comes to juggling I’m also a husband and a father. Because my wife runs a British style preschool and is thus tied down, I take our daughter to doctor’s appointments and run her to ballet practice. Every late afternoon/evening I come home and cook dinner because the daycare runs til 5:30. And then of course we have family time and activities and I have to keep up the house and yard and run errands etc.

So, you get the picture. Life is juggling. Some do it better than others. At Rockhurst University we help in-coming freshmen adapt to college life and learn how to juggle classes and activities. Rockhurst it a great place to be. Check us out.http://www.rockhurst.edu/

Rook & Rock: Don't Eat Crow

2009-08-12T07:19:00.004-05:00

Perhaps growing up your heard Aesop's Fable about the crow that put rocks in a pitcher to get to inaccessible water that was in sight. The crow dropped in rocks to raise the water level so he could finally get a drink. (There are variations on the story.) Turns out that fable might have had more truth in it than originally thought. For the modern science experiment of a rook gaining access to floating food, and the video, click the links below.

So, are you smarter than a crow? Actually, the experiment was done with rooks, birds related to crows, and in ancient Greece they were all called by the same name. Here at Rockhurst University we'll teach you how to drop rocks into a seemingly bottomless pit so that your goals rise to the top within your reach. So what can we learn from the rook besides good moves for checkmate? The rook assessed the situation, looked at available resources, strategized and then executed a plan to achieve its desired goal. That's basically what life is all about. We have a goal and then need to figure out how to attain that goal, even when it seems to be out of our reach. A solid foundation in the Liberal Arts at Rockhurst University supplies people with the necessary rocks to fill in the void and raise the level, the playing field. We also equip you with the tools to utilize when you have strategized a plan. If the first hypothesis doesn't work, back to the drawing board and figure out what went wrong and how to improve.

Of course, at Rockhurst, being a Catholic and Jesuit university we also factor in the spiritual dimension as important and vital to a well-rounded human existence.

So why not drop a rock in the bucket and check out Rockhurst? Our Rockview is coming up October 11-12. http://www.rockhurst.edu/admission/topnav/visit/index.asp

For info on the Rook experiment read this article and then see the videoclip.

http://www.rr.com/news/news/article/rr/1501/8558655/Bird_experiment_shows_Aesops_fable_may_be_true/1

http://www.youtube.com/cellpressvideo

Texted to the Limit

2009-07-29T06:47:00.005-05:00

Okay, well this morning I'm going to sound off. I'm driving into work at 6:30 AM and I make a right turn on a green light and about forty feet past the crosswalk I nearly hit a lady. What was she doing? Standing in the middle of the road. "Standing there doing what?" (Glad you asked.) She was standing there texting! I quickly slammed on the brakes and swerved at the same time. She looked up, stunned, and had an expression on her face like: What the hell are you doing? I was already giving her one of those looks as well, and then she realized, Oh, I'm just standing here in the middle of a main road texting, aren't I?

I know texting is all the rage, has been for quite awhile. But for goodness sakes, please be conscious of your surroundings when you text! It's even come out on the news recently how studies show that texting while driving is more dangerous than drinking and driving. In fact, your chances of having an accident are 23% higher than normal and usually lead to fatalities. http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=8187813

Texting in the classroom isn't a good thing to do either. You pay good money to get an education and participate in class discussions, so you can't do that very well if you're texting during class. Rockhurst University is all for technology in the classroom (http://help.rockhurst.edu/), but not that type.

Anyhow, driver beware. There might be somebody standing in the middle of the road, totally oblivious to everything else, because they're texting! And . . . it'll be YOUR fault that you hit them: involuntary vehicular manslaughter.

Chillin' in the Blazin' Heat

2009-07-15T14:07:00.002-05:00

Well I’m back from vacation, if you could call it that. It seemed more exhausting than relaxing! Of course, since being back it’s been non-stop. We’re already wrapping up our second week of the five week summer program. Before you know it, it’ll be Fall semester already. Last I heard, we have 412 students in the in-coming class—that’s a lot of names to memorize! Thankfully, in one sense, my three classes are maxed out and that only means 85 students, a few of whom I had in the introductory class I teach. This Fall I’m doing TH 1000 Christianity I: Foundations, TH 3000 Christianity II: Development, and TH 4020 Gospel of John and Epistles. And I’ll have a new batch of advisees as well.

The summer’s just flying along. Hope you’re enjoying your time off. If you’re just chillin' and killin' time, check out our website http://www.rockhurst.edu/

Destination Disney

2009-06-17T06:56:00.006-05:00

There comes a time when all dreams must come true. Next week we go to Florida to visit my parents who live in Ft. Myers, are there for a week, and then we're off to Disney World! My six year old daughter as well as my wife are totally excited--I'm not sure which one claims the prize for being the most excited. Even while she was pregnant, my wife dreamed of the day when we would go to Disney World. Should be a good time, of course, as a guy I'm thinking about the more practical matters of lodging, food, walking, weather, being the pack mule, etc. But I'm planning to get some enjoyment time in as well.

So "Dreams come true." Obviously one of yours has been going off to college, being on your own, maybe meeting the right guy or gal, having a blast, getting a good eductaion so you can land the job of your dreams, etc. While Rockhurst University is nothing compared to Disney World, we do have our own set of characters: faculty and staff who can be funny, charming, engaging, perhaps showing a crack in the armor at times, but nonetheless endearing. We have no Magic Kingdom but the science labs can be an adventure in themselves and you'll learn how to pull off some pretty cool experiments. Every year there's the Haunted Science Lab that creates some pretty scarey stuff as well as mind-boggling visual effects. And we have no Animal Kingdom (unless you count the dorms and their inhabitants), but in biology you'll learn about all sorts of neat creatures. And then of course there's Epcot Center, and Rockhurst can boast its own World Cultures Day fair put on by our very own faculty, staff, and students from around the globe, as well as those learning foreign languages. There's music, food, displays, costumes; Did I mention food sampling? While we don't have anything approaching Hollywood Studios we do have a great Theatre program that puts on numerous productions throughout the year and pulls off some pretty cool effects. Did I mention free food and rock concerts and carnivals at Rockhurst?

So while Rockhurst University is not Disney World, it can be a place where your dreams can come true. Check out our website. It can't hurt. http://www.rockhurst.edu/ And like Disney World, we do try to get education across in a creative way. But seriously, Rockhurst University is no theme park, but the theme we DO have running throughout the whole campus is transformative and life-giving education enabling you to make your dreams come true.

Hope you have an awesome summer (and aren't like those poor kids in southern CA stuck in school until mid-August because some administrators couldn't count to 180!) We do know how to count to 180 and beyond, at Rockhurst. No five minute fiasco here, just a time of your life.

PS We are big enough to have a map of all the locations on our university grounds. :-)

Summer Trips & Detours

2009-06-05T07:37:00.003-05:00

And of course, like those blasted roads that are down to one lane due to improvements, there might be some things torn up on campus to make improvements while the swarms of students are away. But isn't that what summer is all about? Detours? So make a detour to the Rock.

http://www.rockhurst.edu/admission/topnav/visit/index.asp

Five Senior Gold Medalists !!!!!

2009-05-20T09:26:00.006-05:00

Every year Rockhurst University awards the Senior Gold Medal to the student who has had the highest GPA for four years, including the graduating semester. This year was a first: we had five, yes FIVE students who tied for the Medal by earning a cumulative GPA of 4.0. The honorees are (pictured from left to right) Andrea Therese Essner, B.A., Megan Nickels Rogge, B.S., Liam Alexander Higgins, B.A., Amanda Allyn Ross, B.S. in Business Administration, and Nicholas Andrew Schneider, B.S. Totally awesome, guys!!!

I’m particularly proud of Andrea Essner and Liam Higgins who are both Theology and Religious Studies majors. Andrea will be spending the next two years in Nicaragua as a part of the Jesuit Volunteer International Program working with children and adults who have disabilities. Then she plans to go on for a Masters in Theology. Liam will be pursuing a Masters of Theological Studies at Harvard having been awarded a full scholarship. Kudos!

Not only does a Jesuit education set high standards for academic achievement and development of the whole person, the experience at Rockhurst University empowers people to be transformed and strive to reach their fullest potential. These five gold medalists are living proof that Rockhurst provides the environment in which students can excel. Not everyone can be a gold medalist, but every student at Rockhurst is given the opportunity to be the best that they can be. Kudos to all of our graduates for having attained their goals and now following the rest of their dreams!!!

And finally, even though we had ten Theology & Religious Studies majors in all—each outstanding in his or her own way--I have to mention another Theology Major: Christopher Shaver who was the class Valedictorian. Chris graduated with a triple major: B.A. in Theology, B.S. in Mathematics, and a B.S. in Business Administration. He will teach math and theology at Regis High School in Denver as part of the Alum Service Corps.

It was an awesome class of 2009; I’ll miss them. Check Rockhurst out and become part of the awesome class of 2014!

http://www.rockhurst.edu/

Rockhurst University Nationally Recognized

2009-05-06T07:32:00.003-05:00

One of the goals of Rockhurst is Excellence in Education. Though not always appreciated, technology in its many forms is essential for education. Well our very own Rockhurst University Computer Services has been nationally recognized as a Laureate by the Computerworld Honors Program. For over twenty years Computerworld Honors has awarded people and institutions for using information technology to benefit society.

Well this year Rockhurst is being acknowledged for its implementation of the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure which is efficient, green, and cost effective. Computer Services will also receive this award for other green technology it has integrated. Rockhurst’s motto to “make God’s good world better,” inspired by our Jesuit ideals, can be lived out in all sectors of the university.

Kudos Computer Services for applying Jesuit social justice to technology in the classroom and campuswide! Your rock! Thanks for being part of the transformational experience and modeling our mission and vision.

For more on this Global Information Technology Award click here http://help.rockhurst.edu/node/139

On Your Honor

2009-04-17T12:56:00.002-05:00

This past Wednesday night we inducted thirteen new members into TAK (Theta Alpha Kappa) Theology and Religious Studies Honor Society. To join you need 12 hours of TH/RS taken at Rockhurst, have a GPA of 3.5% in those classes, at least an overall Rockhurst GPA of 3.0%. Our local chapter is part of National Honor Society. Members received a certificate and red honor cords. Induction took place during our regular pizza party and departmental social.

Being part of an Honor Society looks good on your college resumé when you want to get a job or go onto grad school. There are thirteen Honor Societies here at Rockhurst University and you can join more than one.

Here’s a link to what Rockhurst has to offer regarding Honor Societies.
http://www.rockhurst.edu/registrar/catalog/images/RUCatalog0810.pdf SEARCH PAGE 44.

GREEK WEEK !

2009-04-01T10:21:00.004-05:00

Well this is Greek week at the Rock. The sororities and fraternities are taking in new pledges. This morning there was a campus-wide hunt for the hidden flag. People received a set of clues in code to try to solve the mystery. Because I know a lot of languages one guy hit me up for help in deciphering. Some of it looked like it was in German, some in Danish, some in Spanish, but none of it made any readily discernible sense. I had to quick get some things done so I wasn’t much help. Of cpourse today is April Fools so there's no telling if the clue sheet was even a REAL clue sheet.

But anyhow, Rockhurst University has an active Greek life and it’s a great way to connect with others and be involved in all sorts of service projects, outreaches, and just fun times. Check us out.

http://www.rockhurst.edu/studentlife/greeklife/index.asp
http://www.rockhurst.edu/studentlife/newstudents/faqs.asp

Scholarly Achievement

2009-03-18T11:09:00.003-05:00

As a former recipient of the Daniel L Brenner Scholarly Achievement Award I’ve been asked to serve on this year’s committee to evaluate the scholarly works of my colleagues who have been nominated for this year’s award. The committee makes a recommendation to the President of the University and the recipient’s name is announced at the faculty dinner where s/he receives a $1,000 honorarium.

As a Jesuit institution of higher learning, Rockhurst University is dedicated to excellence in many fields. Every year faculty members must provide an Annual Update in which they list and reflect upon three areas vital to the transformative enterprise of Learning, Leadership, and Service in the Jesuit Tradition. Faculty report on their activities in Teaching, Scholarship, and Service. As a dynamic institution we always seek ways to improve, to strive for magis (more or the greater part) as the Jesuits say. Faculty, in turn, try to inspire in students this sense of magis, of always striving for excellence: what is good, what is wholesome, what is life-giving.

http://www.rockhurst.edu/about/jesuitmission/index.asp

Worth It!

2009-02-27T08:02:00.003-06:00

My daughter is almost 6 yrs old and is at the stage where she asks what words mean when she doesn’t understand—which is great. Just recently she asked, “Daddy, what does ‘worth’ mean?” Good question! Sometimes it’s hard to explain concepts so I told her, “Let’s say you have $5 and want to buy ice cream” (no brainer there!). “One store sells a box for $2.50 and another has the same thing on sale for $1.00.” (She’s already good with math so she figured that one out quickly.) “I can get more for my money at the one store than at the other,” she replied. I said, “Well worth sometimes deals with quantity, how much you get.”

Then I said, but that’s not all worth deals with. “Okay, you still have $5 and you want to buy balloons.” Her eyes lit up. “With $5 you can get 5 balloons filled up with regular air, or get two Mylar balloons filled with helium. Which do you want?” “The two Mylar balloons,” she quipped. I asked, “Why?” “Because they last longer silly!” she replied. “Aha, so worth can also mean quality, how good a thing is, how long it lasts.”

Well, a college education is like that. In these hard economic times we all definitely want to stretch our dollar and get the most bang for our buck. But sometimes there’s more bang and noise than any real substantive fireworks that illuminate our mind’s eye. Some fireworks shows look great at first but then quickly fizzle away in our memory even though they had lots of smaller rockets going off with lots of bang. Yet some fireworks displays create a lasting impression because of the spectacular light show, even though overall they had less rockets and boom. Some shows even co-ordinate music with them, and of course, the setting plays a role as well.

Well a Jesuit education at Rockhurst University integrates a lot into the formative experience. Our location in Kansas City provides students with an excellent setting in which to put into practice what they learn whether through service projects or internships etc. There are a lot of local resources you can tap into. Furthermore, while a Jesuit education costs more than some other places, its enduring value and formative experience outweigh the flash and bang of state colleges. Jesuit education is time-tested and has endured for four centuries that have seen massive social changes. It’s hard to explain the worth of a Rockhurst education, but by comparing it to other "brands" you eventually see and appreciate its lasting value. At Rockhurst you get quantity as well as quality. Not only that, as the MasterCard add goes, some things are priceless. The transformative mission of Rockhurst University, forming men and women for others, is priceless. It provides meaning to education, rather than just an exercise in jumping through hoops to eventually land a job.

Check us out: http://www.rockhurst.edu/about/jesuitmission/index.asp

Tested and Approved

2009-02-13T12:22:00.002-06:00

Sorry I’m a bit late. This week I’ve been grading students’ tests. I have three classes. The way I organize the semester, I break it down into four equal parts with four tests worth the same amount of points. This helps distribute the information into smaller blocks as well as gives students the opportunity to bounce back if they didn’t do as well as they wanted on a particular test. We also have a research paper due.

Anyhow, all of this got me to thinking. Here at Rockhurst University a lot of the instructors are quite willing to help you do well on the tests by answering questions you might have. I let people shoot me an e-mail and I respond back as quickly as I can. Some drop in my office when they want something clarified, or I even read over prep essays that they have written out. Here at the Rock we’re into personal attention and putting the student first. You’re unlikely to get such personalized attention and help on prepping for a test at a big state school, like you would at Rockhurst. This is all part of cura personalis –care for the whole person – that is part of Jesuit education.

We also have a great Learning Center that helps students. You can get free help with tutoring, study strategies, and writing. Check it out: http://www.rockhurst.edu/services/learning/index.asp

Back in the Saddle

2009-01-27T15:12:00.003-06:00

Well, I’m back in the saddle again teaching. I enjoy the excitement of the students. It’s good to be back in the classroom after being on sabbatical last semester. I still have a lot to wrap up from my project, but I look forward to meeting new people and reconnecting with former students who signed up for me again in more advanced classes.

I’ve also gotten the chance to speak with students I knew who are now planning for graduate studies and anxiously waiting to hear about acceptance into grad school.

I suppose there’s a sense of anticipation in the air, looking forward to Spring, to new opportunities, to the new presidency etc. If you’re remotely thinking about checking out Rockhurst University, why don’t ya sign up for Rockview which is March 1-2. It’ll be a fun weekend. Check us out. http://www.rockhurst.edu/admission/events/rockview/index.asp

Undergrad Publishes in Prestigious Journal

2009-01-14T08:55:00.003-06:00

One of the great benefits of attending a private school like Rockhurst University is the one-on-one contact you’ll receive with your professors. Case in point, one of the students who had been in some of my classes received a Deans’ Summer Research Fellowship. Andrea Essner chose to research feminine imagery of God as employed in late Medieval English texts. I served as her mentor, directing her research of both primary and secondary literature. We met several times over the course of this past summer to discuss her findings and to propose a thesis statement for the paper she would write. My goal was to have her submit this as an article for publication in a scholarly journal. Andrea felt daunted by the task, but I knew she could do it.

It’s not often that undergraduates get to publish in journals that people with Ph.D.s compete with one another to get into. Andrea plans to go onto grad school and so I thought this was a perfect opportunity to prep her for that in a more focused way and hone her research and writing skills. (We do give students planning to go onto grad school a lot of mentoring here at Rockhurst.) Well, Andrea’s article was so good that upon her first submission it was accepted! Many times you might need to submit an article to one place, get rejected, and then submit it elsewhere until it’s finally accepted. Anyhow, Andrea’s article, “God as Mother in Post-Black Death English Mystical Texts,” will very shortly appear in Magistra (Winter 2008): 14.2. I’m quite proud of her!

If you attend a state college, you’re very unlikely to get such one-on-one mentoring with a faculty member; you can be lost in a sea of thousands of students.

To find out more about our personal Jesuit educational approach click here: http://www.rockhurst.edu/about/distinction/index.asp
For info on Rockhurst University’s Faculty scholarship and mentoring click here: http://www.rockhurst.edu/about/distinction/faculty.asp

Winter Break

2008-12-17T13:36:00.003-06:00

It’s that time of year when everything winds down and winds up all at the same time. It’s a time to visit family and friends and relax and a time to make plans about the up-coming year. This Winter Break I’ll be spending a week of down time with my wife and daughter and then head to visit my folks in FL, taking their grand-daughter with me. But I’ll also be thinking about starting classes again in January and getting ready for that.

While you’re on break this holiday season it might be the ideal time to check out Rockhurst. They have an open Transfer Day on Jan 6th and the Admissions Office will be open to take you on a tour if want to schedule one in. So enjoy your Winter Break and maybe think about explore some new possibilities.
Have a good one!

http://www.rockhurst.edu/admission/events/transfer_openhouse/index.asp

Bookin' it! Text it!

2008-12-03T13:27:00.003-06:00

Part of going to college is going to the library. But our library doesn’t just have books, it has access to an awful lot of electronic resources and databases. Our library is more accurately an Information Literacy Center housing information in all sorts of media. And if we don’t own something or have electronic access, we’re a member of the powerful MOBIUS Inter-library Loan system which covers the whole state of Missouri. And if by some strange chance, no one in the MOBIUS network has what you’re looking for, our Inter-library Loan Librarian can most likely get it for you from somewhere else.

The bottom-line is education is about access to information and THEN processing that information in an academic fashion. The internet is awash in lots of mis-information. Reader beware. Rockhurst University provides a solid academic Catholic and Jesuit atmosphere in which to discern and process the information that inundates us every day. Knowledge without reflective analysis is mere trivia. And trivia is at the root of trivial. Rockhurst is not an on-line academic institute prone to the trivialization of a sound academic formation. Our education process is fundamentally communal: Learning, Leadership, and Service in the Jesuit Tradition. Our “academic product” if you will, is embedded in lived experience that has endured for centuries and will enrich the world for centuries to come.

For info on our library, check out this link. http://www.rockhurst.edu/services/library/index.asp
For info on Rockhurst Jesuit education click here. http://www.rockhurst.edu/admission/ugrad/jesuit.asp

And book on over to Rockhurst!

Kickin' It!

2008-11-11T08:52:00.003-06:00

The sixth-ranked Men’s Rockhurst Hawks will host the 2008 NCAA Division II Midwest Regional on Friday Nov 14th and Sunday Nov 16th at RU's Bourke Field. Rockhurst, 16-1-3, is the No. 1 seed and will face fourth-seeded Lewis, 14-1-2, in a first-round game at 7 p.m. Friday. The other first-round game on Friday matches second-seeded Northern Kentucky, 15-2-2, against third-seeded Ashland (Ohio), 15-3-2, at 4 p.m. The two winning teams will then meet at 1 p.m. Sunday, also at Bourke Field.

The Rockhurst women's soccer team is NCAA Tournament bound for the first time in school history. The Hawks found out Monday afternoon that they will be traveling north this week to play in the NCAA Midwest Regional in Kenosha, Wis. Rockhurst, 10-5-3, is the No. 6 seed in the Midwest Region and will face third-seeded Northern Kentucky, 15-3, in a first-round game at 11 a.m. Friday. The winner will advance to play second-seeded Wisconsin-Parkside on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in Kenosha.

Regarding last Sunday’s match, senior goalkeeper Chad Becker, the GLVC Defensive Player of the Year, stopped five shots in posting his 14th shutout of the season. Junior forward Tom Heinemann scored his team-high 10th goal of the season on a header from six yards off a cross from Mark Anthony Foster to give Rockhurst a 1-0 lead late in the first half. The Hawks added an insurance goal in the 89th minute on a four-yard shot from senior midfielder Pat Kearns with assists to Kyle Samuelson and Heinemann.

Last Friday, the Hawks got past Drury in a seven-round shootout in the semifinals of the GLVC Tournament at Bourke Field. Becker stopped three consecutive penalty kicks to give the Hawks a 5-4 victory in the shootout after both teams battled to a 0-0 tie for 110 minutes. Heinemann, who led the Hawks with nine shots against Drury, also scored the game-winning goal in RU's 2-1 overtime victory over Wisconsin-Parkside in the first round of the GLVC Tournament on Nov. 2 at Bourke Field.

Congratulations to Coach Tocco and Coach Herdlick and our fine student athletes!

For more stats see http://www.rockhurst.edu/ru_athletics/news/RUmensoccerGLVC08.asp

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

2008-10-28T16:09:00.002-05:00

Who do you want to be for Halloween? Who do you want to be when you grow up?

Last Saturday, Lee’s Summit (where I live) had its Halloween Parade in which kids get to march in their costumes and have a fun time. Our daughter chose to be Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. So I helped her get dressed and my wife did the pony tails and put in ribbons, and we had an old fake dog that we threw in a cheap wicker basket. We threw “Dorothy” into the car and my wife whisked her away. As everyone was lining up someone approached and said, “Your daughter has been picked as a one of the finalists. Have her go up to the stage when called.” My wife was stunned and delighted. After a process, turns out our daughter won 3rd place for best girl’s costume, and there were over 200 kids there. My wife was blown away and so was I when they got home and told me.

We had totally forgotten that there was a competition and judging. So what does this have to do with college? Who do you want to be? Our daughter picked a favorite character and we just went with the flow. Being Dorothy came “naturally” to her. When choosing a college major and eventual career you simply need to go with the flow. Probably if we had consciously tried to win the competition we wouldn’t have. It would have been overkill or something.

“You’ll recognize it when you see it.” You’ll eventually see yourself in some role or career when it’s the right time and place. Don’t worry about it. Just fall into step in the parade, have fun, and everything will fall into place. Every place has its own rhythm, its own step. Rockhurst is a small university with lots of one on one attention from faculty where you get to make lots of close friends. Some like a bigger, more bustling atmosphere. You’ll know which college is right for you. Don’t sweat it. Just go and visit several. Just follow the yellow brick road.

Check out Rockview: http://www.rockhurst.edu/rockview/

Economy & Education

2008-10-16T09:35:00.003-05:00

In this time of economic crisis it’s good to know that Rockhurst University is the cheapest Jesuit institution in the nation. Out of the 28 Jesuit colleges and universities, it costs less to go to Rockhurst than the other 27. Of course, state run colleges cost less than Rockhurst, but most don’t offer a Liberal Arts education that gives you a well-rounded and broad-based foundation upon which to build in the highly competitive market. Furthermore, state run colleges and universities don’t bring in a Christian perspective and values. Sustained by a 2,000 year old Catholic tradition and a 450 year old Jesuit perspective, Jesuit institutions have weathered a lot of storms and crises and have endured.

While Wall Street is rocked and Main Street experiences potholes, some large enough to engulf a local bank, and while the world economy is shaken to its knees, you have to keep your wits about yourself and realize that life went on after the Great Depression—if not, you wouldn’t be here today. Life will go on. We’ll get through this economic crisis, but the thing is to have a strategy. As a prospective student and/or parent of high school kids, you need to invest in the future. A college grad with a well-balanced multifaceted education will be better placed in the emerging world market than a grad with a narrow focus from a state college. You can go cheaper with a state college or university education, but you almost always get what you pay for. Sometimes things are too cheap and the product doesn’t last, or devalues. A Jesuit education is sound and well-rounded. It doesn’t invest in fly-by-night educational schemes and flash-in-the-pan ideas. A Jesuit education is well-worth the money spent.

So why Rockhurst, and not another Jesuit institution that costs more? Won’t I get more since I pay more? Not necessarily. Rockhurst strives in giving you more bang for your buck. We don’t have as large an overhead as some Jesuit universities do, and so we don’t have to charge as much to pay for lots of stops and whistles. At the same time, we’re not bare bones either. Think of us as a well-trained athlete: lean and mean. We’ve already cut away a lot of the fat that Wall Street and Congress need to cut out. There are no pork barrel projects at Rockhurst that need to be funded by student tuitions. So check us out. We’re not afraid to be compared with other institutions. You have to choose wisely and invest in your values, especially your (child’s) education. Rockhurst University makes no bones about its Catholic Jesuit values which embrace people from all backgrounds and religious or non-religious affiliations. We respect diversity of opinion and freedom of conscience.

Click here for info.
http://www.rockhurst.edu/admission/ugrad/jesuit.asp

Double Majors & Double Dipping

2008-10-01T08:05:00.004-05:00

Recently a prospective student asked me whether Rockhurst University allows a person to get a double major. Yep, no prob. Allegedly some colleges and universities don’t encourage doing this, but at Rockhurst double majoring is a little known secret—unfortunately even to some of our own in-coming students. It’s actually not hard at all! Because Rockhurst has what’s called a Core Curriculum that all students must take, some of the courses you’d be taking in your major also count as meeting the Core req. In other words, you can take one course once and have it do double duty! Because of this, double majoring is quite doable, even easy. In fact, some people even leave Rockhurst with a triple major, though in five years instead of four. But you can easily double major in four years.

Graduating with a double major has many benefits. 1) It knocks the socks off any anyone interviewing you. 2) It demonstrates you have determination and discipline. 3) It provides you with a much deeper well-rounded education. 4) It gives you a fall-back plan if you ever need to change jobs and seek employment in that other field. 5) Some jobs require a multi-faceted background and people who can readily multi-task seemingly different subjects.

I’ll be honest; some students feel intimidated just by the thought of doing a double major, but let’s tackle it this way: at Rockhurst after getting one major, most people have 50-55 hours worth of free electives to take. Yes, FIFTY. Many majors consist of 21 or 24 hours of upper level courses in addition to the Core; that’s only 7 or 8 courses out of the 16+ free courses you have left. By choosing certain upper level Core courses that can do double duty, you double dip and can get a double major without any extra money out of your pocket, or Mom and Dad’s. Or if you really play your cards right, you can come to Rockhurst bringing with you high school courses taken for college credit and already have a jump on things! This frees up way more hours. Even a triple major would be quite doable.

So take full advantage of what a Rockhurst University education offers, double dip and get a double major! And getting a double major and a minor is also in the cards.

http://www.rockhurst.edu/admission/ugrad/fields.asp

Color, College, & Career

2008-09-17T06:52:00.007-05:00

Last night I was winding down and came across a thing about a Career Profiler based on color. My first thought was, yeah right. Then I thought, what the heck, just for kicks. Freaky! It pegged me as an organizer and researcher/teacher. Here's the link: (and it's FREE)

http://www.careerpath.com/career-tests/colorcareercounselor.aspx

The site gives you a pretty detailed career profile based on your color preferences. I'm presuming most people don't change their color preferences in life and so this should be a pretty good aid (while using others) in narrowing down a life career. Allegedly, there's been lots of research done with this color profiler . . . Anyhow, most people when they come to college don't know what in the world they want to do in life, and that's okay! College should be a time to explore ideas, and one's self, more deeply, while getting a well-rounded education. At Rockhurst University we have a good Career Center that hosts lots of career opportunity sessions, and there are many "instruments" you can take to help discover more about yourself and what types of careers would best be suited for your make-up. Rockhurst has an outstanding reputation and many employers snap up our grads in numerous fields. Rockhurst also hosts Career Fairs where you get to meet employers etc. We also have sessions on proper dinner etiquette, interviewing strategies, etc etc.

So Rockhurst University helps prepare students to live and serve in the real world. Check out this link and see all the Career Oriented events we have for the Fall.

http://www.rockhurst.edu/services/career/index.asp

Rockhurst Day 'Round the Corner

2008-09-04T15:09:00.002-05:00

It’s Fall and time is already flying by! Before you know it, Rockhurst Day will be here. Why don’t you mark your calendar and plan a visit on September 26th. It would be a great day to see the campus and share in the activities. It’s Home Coming and there are soccer matches and festivities for all ages and food and . . . well it’s just a blast. Just wanted to give you a heads up so you can plan that weekend.
And speaking of festivities, check out the recent goings on at Rockhurst.
http://albums.phanfare.com/rockhurst
For pics from last year’s Rockhurst Day:
http://albums.phanfare.com/4668668/2083847#imageID=28555775

End of the World & the Class of 2012

2008-08-20T07:44:00.004-05:00

Well , we just welcomed the class of 2012.By the time they graduate the world will end as they know it. At least that what some say the Maya Calendar predicts. The calendar runs out on 12.12.2012.

I personally doubt the world will end then due to some galactic shift, or being hit by an asteroid etc as some predict. But “The End of the World as we know it,” isn’t that what college is all about? At Rockhurst we try to prepare students to face the real world. The “cozy world” the class of 2012 will have known, will abruptly end (but in mid May 2012, not December 12th.)

Having experienced a broad-based Liberal Arts education will well-equip these students to face whatever may come. And knowing human nature, we humans will probably have wreaked a certain amount of havoc upon ourselves, but essentially we are good, even if we have to dig down deep some times. The Catholic and Jesuit ethos is that we can find God in all things, and make God’s good world better. It’s a healthy and balanced dose of optimism. And Lord only knows, we could use some of that. The class of 2012 is our future. And there are many bright minds, loving hearts, and people possessing intestinal fortitude who can enable us to face whatever may come, with the grace of God. The world will end in 2012 as we know it and give birth to a new world, just as it will end in 2009, and already ended in 2001, etc. But with a Rockhurst University education gradates can face the myriad challenges and opportunities in an ever shifting and exciting world.

For pics of the incoming class click here. http://albums.phanfare.com/4668668/2576756#imageID=43284589

XXIX Olympiad & RU

2008-08-13T11:36:00.003-05:00

The opening ceremonies in Beijing were totally awesome, a true tribute to what the human spirit can achieve. Equally breath-taking are Michael Phelps’ performances. That 400M relay was like nothing else!

But what does the XXIX Olympiad and Rockhurst University have in common? China. Back in April 1997 Dr. Frank Smist of our Political Sciences Dept. led a trip to Hong Kong. This trip was sponsored through the Global Studies Center and run through our Center for Arts and Letters. Frank’s last group tour to China was in March 2002. But last year Dr. Martin Stack from the Helzberg School of Management was on sabbatical which involved taking a trip to China to study their beer making. (What a sabbatical!) But Dr. Stack did some serious business research and was on a panel held this past Spring.

The International Studies and Global Perspectives Committee organized a series of three events related to China in Spring 2008. Five Rockhurst faculty members and one student participated in a panel in which they discussed their experiences of traveling, studying, or living in China. Dr. Catherine Green (Philosophy) spoke about the Catholic Church in China; Dr. Cecilia Samonte (History) talked about China’s foreign policy toward southeast Asia; Dr. James Daly (Dean of HSOM) and Dr. Stephen Holland-Wempe (Director of our Study Abroad Program) also presented information regarding how Rockhurst students can study in China. And Dr. Martin Stack discussed the research on beer that he conducted. Finally Ms. Elaine Chen, an RU student, shared her experiences as an Asian-American immigrant.

The second China event was a guided tour of the world-renown China exhibit at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, right here in Kansas City. The tour was organized especially for the Rockhurst community. The Committee wrapped up the China event with a campus viewing and discussion of the film, “Joy Luck Club” (1993), based on the novel of the same name by Amy Tan.

So you see, RU has a strong connection with China. At the games athletes strive for excellence, to give it all they’ve got. This need of the human spirit to perform at one’s peak is part of the Jesuit tradition called magis, to strive for greater and greater things, all for the glory of God. The best athletes are the ones who are humble and know that there is a greater Power, and are filled with gratitude for their innate abilities that they have honed. This is what Rockhurst education is all about, honing the God-given talents that one has and empowering them to their utmost. So check us out. And maybe even study abroad in China!

Green Computing

2008-07-30T07:34:00.004-05:00

As a faculty member, we all serve on various committees. I so happen to be the Chair of the Information Technology Committee (ITC). ITC deals with Computer Services as well as Information Literacy (the library side, books, databases, etc.) We’re constantly trying to improve.
Rockhurst University was one of the first campuses to go entirely wireless. Now we’ve just made a big leap forward by going green and using “thin clients.” This means that computer labs have computer screens that tap into a centralized campus-wide server and are not attached to individual computers. They use 90% less energy than traditional PCs. The speed is much faster and no info is lost if the workstation you’re sitting at somehow goes down. You can log on to another station and immediately be right back where you were! This is true for all 18 computer labs across campus. Eventually thin clients will populate more places around campus. While some other colleges and universities in the area have some thin clients, Rockhurst, at least for now, is the only one to undertake such a massive upgrade of its computer system.
Rockhurst continues to strive for excellence in technology regarding education. This move also “makes God’s good world better” by being environmentally friendly and responsible stewards of our resources. This is an economic savings to Rockhurst. We have a great Computer Services staff.
For more info click here. http://www.rockhurst.edu/news/events/thin.asp

Exotic Getaway w/ Education

2008-07-15T11:33:00.004-05:00

Have you ever thought about studying in some exotic location? Rockhurst University offers the opportunity to Study Abroad in some pretty cool locations. Or is that HOT locations? No matter what your scene, RU holds exciting opportunities to study in other countries.

This summer there are two groups out there doin’ their thang. One’s in Costa Rica (la vida loca) and one’s in France (oo lalah). Check ‘em out.
http://albums.phanfare.com/rockhurst

And don’t forget to check out the info on our Study Abroad Program.
http://www.rockhurst.edu/academic/international/studyabroad.asp

Banking with a Bang

2008-07-01T16:11:00.006-05:00

Well the 4th of July weekend is right around the corner. It’s a time to celebrate freedom. Along with independ -ence from Great Britain, Independ -ence Day also held up the lofty ideas of freedom of information and pursuit of happiness through acquiring knowledge. Benjamin Franklin is noted for his many witty quotes, one of which is: “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” For him and many Founding Fathers (who incidentally were well-educated), freedom of information and knowledge was a liberating thing. They believed the best way to educate the general public was through freedom of the press. Let people have all the facts and make up their own minds. Withholding information and promulgating disinformation was part of what the British government was doing.

This drive for liberty and freedom of thought gave rise to many colleges that espoused the Liberal Arts. Education is to be a liberating enterprise. Knowledge is power that can break the bonds of oppression forged by ignorance and misinformation. Rockhurst University promotes the seven liberal arts disciplines: Artistic, Historical, Literary, Philosophical, Theological, Scientific-Causal, & Scientific-Relational. We at Rockhurst believe that this Liberal Arts Core builds a Rock Solid foundation, empowering you to be a free thinker in a life-giving fashion. The Liberal Arts prepares you to function and serve in society as a well-balanced and well-rounded person.

BTW, Liberal Arts doesn’t mean “liberal” in the political sense of “far-left.” One can be politically conservative and totally embrace a Liberal Arts education, because it seeks the truth no matter where that leads; and Truth has nothing to be afraid of. The Liberal Arts, however, point out that there are many perspectives that can have a bearing on the same issue.

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” This is banking with a bang. Not only will graduating with a degree from Rockhurst further your career opportunities, the Liberal Arts education will liberate your mind and challenge you to think critically and to formulate decisions in a comprehensive and responsible fashion, following your own informed conscience. That’s what the Rockhurst education is all about, Learning, Leadership, and Service in the Jesuit Tradition.

Freedom of information and academic freedom are the life-blood of the American Revolution. Continue the revolution by investing in knowledge.

For information on the Liberal Arts Core click here: http://www.rockhurst.edu/academic/deansoffice/liberalcore.asp

Transfer and Improve Your Credit

2008-06-24T10:52:00.003-05:00

Credit card companies are always offering introductory rates and enticing offers with low APRs. At Rockhurst University you can transfer credits and improve your overall academic credits by taking upper level college courses, as well as work on a better GPA. And there’s no deceiving introductory rate! Many of the courses that you might have taken at a 2 year community college in history, math, art, theatre, communications, music, English or world lit, Spanish, French, German, chemistry, biology, physics, psychology, sociology, political science, global studies, and economics transfer right in as equivalents to our Core curriculum. You can transfer in lots of credit hours and later market yourself better by graduating with a degree from Rockhurst. Reputation counts.

A liberal arts education from Rockhurst University in the Jesuit tradition can round out the course work you’ve already done and provide a Rock solid foundation for life in the real world of the market place, inter-personal relations, and service. The Rockhurst experience is based on Learning, Leadership, and Service in the Jesuit tradition. We don’t just teach you information; we form you as a whole person by challenging you to grow in multiple areas. You, then, in turn can transform lives, rising above the ordinary humdrum and rat race. Education is more than just jumping through the hoops. It can be a fun experience of playing with the “hula-hoops” of ideas and strategies. So break out of the dog eat dog world of jumping through hoops, and get down . . . to RU.

Who cares what’s in your wallet. What’s in your portfolio?

Transfer Day is July 11th. http://www.rockhurst.edu/admission/events/transfer_openhouse/index.asp

Rockhurst Night Life

2008-06-20T07:24:00.003-05:00

What you mean by Rockhurst Night Life, especially during the summer, is probably not what I mean. Not that I’m against “night life,” it’s just that Rockhurst University offers a wide assortment of night classes that are appealing for people who hold day jobs, might need to squeeze in an extra course or meet pre-reqs. Of course, these can also be done by taking day-time summer courses, but throughout the year Rockhurst offers night courses to fit peoples’ schedules.

Right now I’m teaching a course from 5:30 to 9:30 and it’s not as bad as I thought it might be. I haven’t taught a night class in ages. But the people are dedicated and engaged in the material. Night classes also cost less, so there’s an incentive for ya! Those in the regular, as well as accelerated, Nursing Program are thankful for these night offerings. Also in my class are several people who hold positions in businesses. Our MBA program is a good one as well.

Second summer session classes start July 7th and we have night classes in: Communication Disorders, Communications, Education, Paralegal Studies, Psychology, and Theology. Of course there’s always Fall as well! It’s not too late to register for 2nd Summer Session classes or Fall.

So why not check out what type of stimulating “night life” Rockhurst has to offer?

https://oracleweb.rockhurst.edu/pls/dbp/bwckschd.p_disp_dyn_sched

http://www.rockhurst.edu/HSOM/programs/mba/why.asp

Boys of Summer

2008-06-10T08:09:00.004-05:00

Summer is just around the corner and of course the boys of summer are out in full force. A former student of mine, Ryan Morgan, who just ended his junior year, was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 26th round on June 6th. He was the 775th overall pick. Ryan signed a contract with the Royals this past Monday (9th)—of which I get a handsome cut—I wish! Kudos Ryan!

Ryan’s a great guy and a superb athlete. I had Morgan in my TH 3000 class, and he was a hard worker. He’s not a wunderkind, all brains and brawn, but he’s a disciplined hard worker. Like other students, he would meet with me one on one to make sure he understood the essays and class material. He was determined to earn an A in my class, and with hard work he did just that. Keep in mind he was juggling baseball, other classes, and extra curricular activities.

At Rockhurst University we are dedicated to developing the whole person. The Jesuits call it cura personalis. We also stress magis, striving for excellence, empowering a person to excel to the best of their God-given talents. Not everybody can be a Ryan Morgan. But everybody has their own special gifts and with hard work, discipline, and determination you can realize your dreams. The faculty at Rockhurst are here to draw forth the latent gifts and talents of students and empower them to make their dreams come true.

Ryan’s love is baseball and his dream was to pitch in the major leagues. Ryan hails from St. Louis, MO and as a junior he posted a 3-4 record with a 3.89 ERA while striking at 74 hitters on 69.1 innings this past season. During his three seasons at Rockhurst University he ended with a 10-11 record and a 3.67 ERA. Ryan struck out 205 batters and issued 94 walks in 218 innings.

In a Rockhurst interview Ryan noted, “I had a feeling I would be drafted by the Royals. I had a good day at their tryout camp. It seemed like they were high on me.” Morgan also made a big impression on the St. Louis Cardinals at their tryouts with his fastball clocking between 92 and 94 mph.

He’s the fifth player to be drafted during the 14 year tenure of head coach Gary Burns. We have a good athletic program at Rockhurst University that stresses academic achievement. Check us out. http://www.rockhurst.edu/ru_athletics/index.asp

Finals are Over!

2008-05-16T07:31:00.002-05:00

Finals week is over! Let summer begin! It's been a crazy week here at the Rock--wrapping up the Spring semester. Of course, as a proff I had to assign research papers, and of course these had to be due at the end of the semester once students had enough information under their belt, so that meant reading a slew of papers, about a hundred during the past week. And what would a semester be without a week of finals? So for students and instructors alike the end of term is a real zoo, and you can just imagine how restless the natives get.

Well today is Baccalaureate, my favorite event. It has lots of pomp and celebration and an informal reception afterwards. That's the part I like most: the food--jk. While the finger food is good, the opportunity to see graduating seniors one on one and get photos taken etc, that's the real event. Tomorrow is Commencement, and while that's nice in its own way, it's such a BIG production with hundreds of people, there's no real opportunity for the more friendly exchange. Anyhow kudos to the graduating class!

I'll be in England for the next two weeks, visiting my wife's Dad and some relatives. Then I'm back in the swing of things teaching two summer courses, so I'll let you in on what it's like during the summer, (besides hot and sweaty). And if you're thinking about summer classes, better sign up soon. BTW, they're cheaper in the summer than in the Fall and Spring.

Until then . . .

Student Wins Regional Paragon Award

2008-05-07T06:46:00.002-05:00

At Rockhurst University we emphasize developing the whole person in the Catholic and Jesuit tradition. One outstanding student example of this drive for excellence is Garrett Fischer who has been selected to receive the 2007-08 Richard F. Scharf Paragon Award. The award, bestowed annually by the Great Lakes Valley Conference to one male and one female student athlete that display academic excellence, athletic ability and achievement, character and leadership, will be presented at the Enterprise Rent-A-Car GLVC Awards Banquet in St. Louis on May 20.

Fischer exemplified the traits of a Paragon Award recipient during his time as a tennis player at Rockhurst. He helped guide the Hawks to the NCAA Tournament in all three years he was with the program and will earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in May. Fischer maintained a 4.0 grade point average, while excelling on the hardcourt and in the community.

He was an All-GLVC selection in 2008 and posted a 20-31 record in singles play over the course of his career. Fischer guided the Hawks to a second-place finish in the GLVC in both 2007 and 2008 and was named the 2007 GLVC Men’s Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year. During Fischer’s tenure with the squad, Rockhurst is 38-26 overall.

Fischer is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, a three-time GLVC All-Academic selection, a two-time ITA Academic All-American and a member of the Rockhurst Dean’s List and National Dean’s List. He is also the recipient of The Wall Street Journal Award and the Delta Sigma Phi Scholarship Key.

His activity in the community also sets him apart. After battling an illness in 2006, Fischer organized a fundraising team for the annual Guts & Glory Walk-Race in 2006-07 and helped raise over $1 million for research for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). He contacted congressmen to advocate for support of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Bill currently in Congress and planned a CCFA benefit night through the St. Louis Aces.

Fischer was also a representative at the National Seminar on Jesuit Higher Education in 2006, was an Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities Honors Student Council Member in 2007 and was a three-year member of the Helzberg School of Management Dean’s Student Advisory Board.

“Garrett Fischer is very deserving of the GLVC Paragon Award,” states RU tennis coach Carolina Mayorga-Perry. “He displays academic excellence, tremendous athletic ability, tremendous character and strong leadership.”

Fischer is the first Rockhurst student-athlete to be awarded the Paragon Award. Rockhurst began competing in the GLVC in the fall of 2005. The Richard F. Scharf Paragon Award was established prior to the 1990-91 season in honor of Richard F. Scharf, Commissioner Emeritus of the GLVC.

(Thanks to John Dodderidge for this report.)

Deans' Summer Research Fellowship

2008-04-24T06:53:00.002-05:00

Every year students at Rockhurst University have the opportunity to apply for a Deans’ Summer Research Fellowship. Besides the monetary bonus, it provides the student the opportunity to work closely with a faculty mentor. This year another student of mine, Andrea Essner, who is a Theology major was selected as one of seven to receive the fellowship. Many more students had submitted competitive proposals. I heard the selection process was difficult.

Andrea comes from Saint Louis, MO and is pursuing a double major in English and Theology. She intends to go onto grad school to earn a Ph.D. in theology. Her summer project is entitled “Feminine Images of God in English Mystical Texts: A Comparative Analysis,” and I will serve as her mentor since I have some expertise in this field of study. Andrea’s knowledge of English literature will enable her to appreciate how mystics throughout the British Isles used feminine metaphors of God to convey a spiritual reality that was meaningful for their audience.

Congratulations go to all of our fine recipients this year!

· Ms. Madiha Aslam, “Inquiry - Based Learning in Mathematics,” under the direction of Dr. Mairead Greene, Department of Mathematics and Physics.
· Ms. Blair Ballard & Ms. Bailey Williams, “Accuracy of Personality Judgments: Theory, Research, and Applications,” under the direction of Dr. Kate Nicolai, Department of Psychology.
· Ms. Rebecca Benjamin, “Evaluating the Success of a Relocated Population of Timber Rattlesnakes,” under the direction of Dr. Mindy Walker, Department of Biology.
· Ms. Andrea Essner, “Feminine Images of God in English Mystical Texts: A Comparative Analysis,” under the direction of Dr. Daniel Stramara, Jr., Department of Theology & Religious Studies.
· Ms. Jeanette Powers, “Looking In and In and In: Fractals and Nature,” under the direction of Dr. Zdenka Guadarrama, Department of Mathematics and Physics.
· Mr. Alhagie Touray, “Case for Economic Cooperation and Integration in Africa: Is It Possible?,” under the direction of Dr. Michael Tansey, Department of Economics.

Faculty Member of the Year Award

2008-04-16T07:01:00.004-05:00

Every Spring students get the opportunity to recognize one of our faculty members as an outstanding teacher who is dynamic in the classroom and facilitates learning by really connecting with students. This year the “Rockhurst Faculty Member of the Year 2007-2008 As Voted by the Student Body” went to Mr. Glenn Young. Mr. Young is presently wrapping up his dissertation at UMKC on The Cloud of Unknowing. This is his first year teaching here at Rockhurst full-time and its quite an achievement to receive this award at all, let alone in one’s first year! Glenn teaches TH 1000 Christianity I: Foundations and its sequel TH 3000 Christianity II: Development, and we’re glad to have him in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies.

At Rockhurst we are centered around student learning, which is bolstered by an instructor’s scholarship and service to the community. We’re expecting great things from you, Glenn. No pressure!

Going to India -- An Interview

2008-04-09T14:05:00.008-05:00

One of our Rockhurst faculty members, Dr. Faith Childress from the History Department, has just been accepted into a prestigious summer institute in India. So here’s an interview report in the first person.

"I’ve been selected to participate in the National Endowment of the Humanities’ Summer Institute entitled “Bharata Darshan—Past and Present in the Study of India’s History and Culture.” The Institute is composed of about 20 professors from across the US. For the month of July, I’ll be living in three locations in India: Shimla, New Delhi, and Agra. We’ve already been warned that the climate may prove challenging because although all three locations are in northern India, temperatures in July range from the 50s in Shimla to 110-plus degrees in New Delhi and Agra. Every day I will be attending morning lectures by scholars of South Asia, in the afternoons visiting sites related to the lectures, and attending cultural events in the evenings."

"I'm really jealous, Faith!"

"Well of course you are, Daniel. Anyhow, I’m excited about the Institute because it’s interdisciplinary. We’ll examine India’s religions, arts, architecture, history, and literature from ancient times to the present. Likewise, we’ll explore a variety of topics such as the creation of Indian myth, the traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Islam, the synthesis of Hindu and Islamic artistic traditions, the interaction of British colonial power with the Princely States, the nationalist struggle, and the sexual economies of modern India. In addition, we’ll see temples and mosques, Mughal sites such as the Red Fort and the Taj Mahal, and memorial sites for leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Indira Gandhi. I know that being in India will be a fantastic experience, and I’m looking forward to incorporating what I’ll learn and experience into my World Civilizations and Modern South Asia courses."

"Did you know that I'm a contortionist and can fit into a small trunk?"

Dr. Childress gasps, "O my gosh, Daniel! How did you do that? But I'm sure they won't let me smuggle a wild animal into India."

Have a great time, Dr. Childress!

International Faculty

2008-04-03T13:30:00.003-05:00

A university is a vibrant community, composed of students, faculty, and staff. And like any dynamic and living organism a university changes; it grows, adapts, etc. Next Fall Rockhurst will be gaining some new faculty. Because of job opportunities and family reasons our History Department had lost two faculty members. The new hires are Mr. K.D. Motes for Early US History and World History, and Dr. Cecilia Samonte for Modern US History and World History. (Dr. Samonte has already been with us for one year.) Our Department of Communication and Fine Arts had also lost a faculty member to a new job opportunity. He will be replaced by Ms. LaKresiha Graham. A faculty member in the Political Science Dept. had retired and will be replaced by Mr. Matthew Beverlin. And Biology and Chemistry likewise needed new members and thus Dr. Christine Wills and Dr. Petia Bobadova-Parvanova (from the University of Sophia, Bulgaria) will be joining us, respectively. And Rockhurst is pleased to hire a Director of Global Studies and Assistant Professor of Anthropology all-in-one: Dr. Chanasai Tiengtrakul. Dr. Chanasai will help launch our new Global Studies Perspectives requirement and reshape our Global Studies Program.

We eagerly await this diverse group of talented people--from across the USA (from California to Pennsylvania) and from around the world--to enrich our faculty and Rockhurst learning community. Our faculty is becoming more diverse and international.

Quaking in My Boots

2008-03-27T07:30:00.005-05:00

One of the purposes of the RU blogs is to give you a glimpse into the life of students and faculty. So here’s one about me—my most favorite subject. jk! (Those who know me, know I really don’t like talking about myself, and I hate filling out Annual Faculty Data Reports where I need to talk about everything I’ve done and how good I am at doing what I do. YUCK!!!)

Any who . . . sometimes research and articles are spawned by accident. As I said previously, one of my hobbies is genealogy. As an historian I always try to track down all the verifiable information and documentation that I can find. One particular line of my ancestry is Quaker, and my most immediate Quaker ancestor was “disunited” for “marrying out.” In other words, he married a non-Quaker and was kicked out of the local Quaker congregation for it. Thus “disowning” and “disuniting” amongst the Society of Friends intrigued me so I investigated it. In looking at transcripts of original documents I discovered that many New Jersey Quakers were also disowned for their participation in the American Revolution, so this led to a whole new line of inquiry. Quakers were and are pacifists. So what about these fighting Quakers? Well it turns out that very little has been written about New Jersey Friends who took up arms, just a passing paragraph in some books. A good bit has been done on PA Quakers. So all of this “love of learning” has led to my cranking out an article written with a social sciences approach regarding New Jersey Quakers and the American Revolution.

So besides teaching and trying to foster learning, faculty members do research and writing that feeds back into the classroom. This research has given me a better understanding about the Society of Friends and appreciation for the complex relationships that existed during an important era of US history.

University life is about the love of learning and having gusto for life.

Shrouded in Mystery

2008-03-14T09:54:00.004-05:00

The Shroud of Turin, the alleged burial cloth of Jesus, has attracted a lot of attention ever since 1898 when it was discovered that the image on the cloth is a photographic negative. Scientists remain puzzled as to what exactly caused the image. Now the Shroud has gone High-Def, photographed “almost 1,300 times stronger than a picture taken with a 10 million pixel digital camera.” A BBC documentary about the recent filming etc will soon be aired on the Discovery Channel.

Back in 1988 Carbon-14 tests were done on a corner sample producing the dating between 1260 and 1390. Subsequently, most scientists dismiss the Shroud as an ingenious Medieval Latin forgery, but many questions still remain. The image on the Shroud in places is no more the 1/500 of an inch thick; modern science still has no way to replicate that. Seen through a VP-8 Imager, a photograph of the Shroud image is actually 3-D; regular photographs are not. Pollen samples as well as limestone build-up indisputably prove that the cloth existed in the Jerusalem area. Likewise, the weave of the cloth is unique to first-century Palestine textiles. How did a Medieval-Early Renaissance forger know the specific weave etc and replicate it? And then there are medical anatomical facts as well. Theories have been posited regarding how the forgery could have been pulled off, as well as theories questioning the Carbon dating results. No matter what, the Shroud proves for interesting scientific investigation. Nothing like a good mystery!

The bottom line is, the belief in Jesus Christ being the Incarnate eternal Son of God, who was crucified and resurrected, is a matter of faith, not reason. Faith and reason can and should work hand in hand; religion shouldn’t fear science. As a Catholic university, Rockhurst values both faith and reason; religion and science. Whether the Shroud is the actual burial cloth of the historical Jesus of Nazareth is not essential for Christian faith; however, ongoing scientific questions and resultant data support the idea that faith shouldn’t be summarily dismissed either. Something is going on that defies present scientific understanding.

For links about the up-coming Discovery Channel program as well as the Shroud of Turin, click below.

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/02/28/shroud-of-turin.html

http://shroud.com/

http://www.shroudofturin.com/

Spring Break

2008-03-06T06:42:00.004-06:00

Well this is mid-term week and EVERYONE is looking forward to Spring Break which starts Saturday, or earlier if you're lucky! It's been a jam-packed semester especially since we started much later this year. Then there's Easter Break right on the heels of Spring Break. We're back for four days and then off again. The Calendar Committee better not do this again! Just wrap it all up in one enchilada. Anyhow, all of us teachers are looking forward to the time off, though we need to grade the mid-terms and turn in grades by next Tuesday March 11, during Spring Break. Thus for many of us, Spring Break really doesn't kick in until all that grading is done.

As for me, after that I'll be here trying to catch up on stuff, such as writing up reports for powers that be, finishing up articles I'm writing, preparing an extensive writing guide for research papers, and handouts for up-coming Greek classes. But at least the pace will be more relaxed for a week. Hopefully the weather will end up being nice and sunny and warm for a day or two and if so, I'll escape from the office. Please God let it warm up!

So not much new in the zoo besides the animals getting restless and planning an escape.

Bursting Your Bubble

2008-02-27T07:34:00.004-06:00

Sometimes we need to have our bubbles burst. Check out this very cool highspeed film, slowed way down and be amazed.

Have a wet one!

Greek Pride- Let's Party

2008-02-20T06:54:00.007-06:00

Okay, well I might not throw a full-blown party, but I'm really proud of my students in the Intro to New Testament Greek class. Not only are they mastering the theological concepts brought out by the Greek language in the biblical text, but they're really grasping the Greek language in just three weeks! For every test the students need to know six theological essays (in English--thank God!) out of which I randomly pick two (30 points each). Then they have ten sentences in Greek to translate into English (4 points each). We just had our first exam last week and 3/4 of the class scored 90 and higher. Ex-cell-ent! We're even at the point now of reading some basic verses from the New Testament. And the students aren't geeks. Several jocks are taking the course and some socially cool people. Eight of them are business majors, three math, two biochemistry, two psych, two english, and or course there are some theology majors, namely four, and assorted others.

Bottom line, the vast majority of the class is kicking some serious butt when it comes to learning Greek. I think they're even beginning to appreciate how Greek enables them to think critically about how things relate to one another and the necessity of articulating those relationships clearly and accurately. In English we have one word "the." Greek has eight ways to express the concept "the," and then does so three times over because there are three grammatical genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter. Imagine memorizing twenty-four different "the's"!

And the students in my other classes are great as well, but ya just gotta love somebody who can say "the" twenty-four different ways and not just say "duh."

Heart-throb

2008-02-14T06:55:00.005-06:00

Well I arrived into work a little later today because my daughter made a point of waking up early so she could wish me Happy Valentine's Day and give me my card. I leave at 6:00 AM. Much to her surprise Daddy had already bought a half dozen golden amber roses and placed them at her breakfast seat along with a card. You should have seen the joy in her sleepy little eyes as they came into focus. I have her Valentine's Day card to me here on my desk She and her mummy had gone out shopping for a Valentine's Day card about a week ago and she picked one out all by herself. It's one of a cartoon dog sitting at a computer typing in a long list of Valentine tributes "of all the things I love about you." When opening the card up, out pops a computer print out saying EVERYTHING. I wonder where she gets the idea that I spend a lot of my time sitting at a computer?

So anyhow, today's a day dedicated to love. Lots of people have lots of different ideas about what love means. Its kinda like God, there are a zillion different takes. But in seeing my daughter's reaction this morning (as well as that of my loving wife--I had bought her six long stem white roses which surrounded six long stem royal purple ones), I was reminded of what I have come to know. If there is true love, authentic love, there will always be joy. A test to see if this relationship is really real or not is: Is the relationship life-giving? Does the love endure? Does the joy persist? A true sign of love is joy. Love and joy are companions.

That's not to say authentic love doesn't also encompass pain and sorrow, but there's always enduring joy. Clare and I were expecting twins: a girl and a boy. Our daughter was delivered by C section first (its pretty standard to deliver twins by C section). I can't express the extreme joy I experienced. Then little Daniel was to be delivered. I could see the doctor's expression change and knew something was terribly wrong. Daniel was stillborn. That was five years ago this coming April 17th. The doctors after running subsequent tests still don't know exactly what happened or why, but somehow his internal organs stopped growing during the last few weeks unbeknownst to everyone. The odd thing was, before the C section they always hook up heart monitors and each twin was registering distinctly different heartbeats.

The doctors had been monitoring Clare and the twins for weeks before, and she would wear these little heart monitors attached to her abdomen. When I would come home I would say, "Daddy's home." And then speak to each one by name. When little Daniel would hear my voice and hear me say "Hi Daniel," his heart would race; you could see his heart beat accelerate when I would talk to him. That gave me the greatest joy. Daniel, you're still my "heart-throb." Love ya son. The joy you gave me will never die.

Mediocre Wednesday

2008-02-06T07:24:00.001-06:00

Well I've been thinking what to write about. Yesterday was Super Tuesday. This Wednesday morning the final results are still trickling in. I'm not going to get partisan, but thought I'd just give a little commentary, share a perspective. My wife is from London, England and they do things differently there. I was born in Baltimore, MD, and am a US citizen. In fact, my ancestors helped found this nation, fought in the Revolutionary War, held political offices, and an ancestral first cousin of mine signed the Declaration of Independence.

But last night was interesting, if not down-right baffling. I was aware that for Republicans it means winner take all (the delegates) and that Democrats share the delegates proportionally, but what baffled me was that Republicans swap caucus members so as to block another Republican candidate (eg. in WVA Huckabee gained McCain delegates so as to block Romney--Huckabee take all) and that Democrats flood caucuses so as to outnumber an opponent (as appears to have happened in Olathe, KS with young Obama caucus members standing in freezing rain).

I guess I'm just confused about the democratic ideal of representation. I mean the driving force of the American Revolution (against England) was "No taxation without representation." How do the American people get represented who can't attend a caucus (whether Republican or Democratic)? I would think when it comes to national issues it would be more just and democratic at least to provide a fair opportunity for all people to get involved in the (s)election process rather than limiting it to an hour or two etc. (Personally, when it comes to national matters [not local] I believe we should have one uniform standardized format. But that's just me.)

Anyhow, so what does any of this have to do with Rockhurst and what I do? I just wonder how many new young voters got disenchanted last night with the "process." How many now feel what's the use? I believe people should be engaged in civic matters. No matter what the results might be, Shouldn't the process itself be equitable and empowering? At Rockhurst we strive to form the whole person. One facet of that is service to others. Naturally that involves civic duty and political participation. I just hope that the recent Generation X and the current Millennial Generation don't become disillusioned with civic involvement.

A Little Skittish

2008-01-30T06:54:00.000-06:00

One of the courses I teach is TH 1000, Christianity I: Foundations. In one section we study the various models of Jesus Christ that appeared in the early centuries. Because the ideas are fairly abstract (Was Jesus the human being really God, and if so, to what extent and how?) I put on a little one man skit, so that it makes these views at least partially visible and understandable.

Mainline Christianity held that Jesus is both human and divine, a paradox. A paradox is when two seemingly contradictory things are joined into one. A paradox is a both/and; quite different from an either/or perspective. Anything that deviates from this balanced paradoxical view was deemed heretical. The word heresy means to veer off course, wander away. Every heresy contains within it something which is true, but runs wild with that forgetting something else that the mainline church thought was equally true. Heretics weren't trying to be "pains in the butt;" they were wrestling with a mystery and trying to understand it. But they did end up being myopic. In other words, something can be true, but not be the whole truth.

So without further ado, here's a link to the skit I put on. It won't be a YouTube sensation, but this gives you some idea of how I teach on occasion. I'm usually willing to do whatever it takes to try to be an effective facilitator of learning.

mms://webcast.rockhurst.edu/Faculty/StramaraD/Christology.wmv

Back into the Cold

2008-01-23T12:44:00.000-06:00

Well I just got back last evening from sunny Fort Myers, FL where the temps were in the high 70s. Here in KC the highs are in the teens to low 20s. What a rude awakening from a vacation! My daughter enjoyed visiting with her grandparents.

Today was the first day of classes and it was great seeing lots of people in the hallways and greeting former students. My first class went well: Introduction to New Testament Greek.

Over the break I found out that my article I had submitted last month, "Collegiality and the Formation of the Apostles' Creed," was accepted by the journal Ecumencial Trends and appears this month in print.

Faculty are already deciding what pre-registration activities they're going to get involved with regarding prospective students. While it's the dead of winter, thoughts are on Spring. Maybe I'll see you on campus as you check us out.

Christmas Break

2007-12-12T07:52:00.001-06:00

Campus is quiet. The students have now all gone on Christmas Break, glad to be out of here. Classes won’t resume until Jan 23rd, so this year we have six weeks off! During this time I plan to catch up on work, have some down time, and spend a lot of time with my wife and daughter. You might not hear much from me. The quiet is a nice change to the hustle and bustle of Christmas. Of course, since my wife runs a Daycare and has seven little children that she minds, I’m the one saddled with running errands such as mailing Christmas cards and presents, and buying more presents etc. Escaping to Rockhurst is a nice outlet.

This afternoon the A&S faculty have a Christmas celebration, so that’ll be nice. And then this Friday night is the President’s Christmas dinner. My wife always loves attending that. Hopefully, we won’t be having an ice storm—something KC is noted for. We just had one yesterday.

Well I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And a Happy Hanukkah and Cool Kwanza and whatever else you might celebrate.

NEH Fellowship Awarded

2007-12-05T11:15:00.000-06:00

One of my colleagues, Dr. Craig R. Prentiss Associate Professor of Theology and Religious Studies, was just awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship for 2008-2009. The NEH usually receives about 1500 applications every year and they grant about 12%. In other words, it’s a really big deal to receive an NEH Fellowship and be nationally recognized. This means Dr. Prentiss will have the whole academic year off so that he can focus solely on research and writing.

Here's what he has to say about his project in his own words. The manuscript is tentatively entitled Religion and African American Theatre, 1858-1945.

“My book will contend that plays have been a vital site for conveying and contesting various theological perspectives within African American communities. Plays can be understood as many things, but if we look at plays as arguments—arguments for what the world is or what the world should be—we find black playwrights before World War II actively struggling with the issue of religion’s role in forming black identity. The central questions my research addresses include: What happens when we take seriously the religious dialogue and imagery in plays written by black authors as imparting information about the playwrights’ own religious ideologies? How did these vernacular theologies expressed in plays reflect the tenets of larger theological (and anti-theological) camps within African American culture and reveal the common themes as well as fissures dividing them? In what ways did the social divisions among African Americans, especially along the lines of class and gender, manifest themselves in the way religion was portrayed on stage? What impact did these portrayals of religion have on those who watched and read the plays?”

So huge kudos (!) to my colleague whose expertise in is modern religious studies. And watch the bookstands . . . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NEH

Wrapping Papers

2007-11-28T07:23:00.000-06:00

Well it’s that joyous season of the academic year when papers are due- blah blah blah, bah humbug. Students grumble and feel pressured and harried even though many of us professors tell them from day one when the papers are due. I even provide an on-line list of possible research topics, model outlines, writing guidelines about style and citation and plagiarism etc. I also offer to go over to the library and help students find information; some take me up on it, but many don’t. I even offer to read rough drafts a week in advance—you can imagine how many of those I receive. Is this guy nuts or what!

Christmas is the season for cramming everything in: food, parties, plays, concerts, more parties and socials, carrolling, Christmas shopping, so why not cramming in research papers as well? It’s the one season of the academic year I get to do theatrics—standing on top of the desk to get everyone’s attention and making explicitly sure students don’t use the on-line version of the Catholic Encyclopedia from 1918, that is NOT the New Catholic Encyclopedia from 2003 that they need to use as one resource. I also rail at them about Wikipedia not being a valid academic resource. I likewise lovingly “snarl” at them about plagiarism and how I have an almost photographic memory and keep electronic copies of papers to check for plagiarism and do internet searches as well. Bottom line, it’s the one time of year I get to play the part of Scrooge so that when Winter Break does come around they really enjoy it and celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or whatever they wish or don’t wish. Unbeknownst to them, I’m really providing a service: by making something so “painful” and dour that they’ll later experience pleasure and contentment.

But every now and then there’s that bright student who shines like the Star the Wise Men followed who is excited about their research topic and comes in ahead of time and bounces things off me and then eagerly awaits to see how I receive their research project that they’re so proud of. And thus I receive small Christmas gifts in advance and this makes my job worthwhile and gratifying. Happy Holidays!

Ahnentafel What?

2007-11-20T08:13:00.000-06:00

Well it’s Tuesday and tomorrow RU is out for Thanksgiving Break, so I thought I better get this out today.

I was trying to think what to write about and I thought I’d weave together my last two blogs: the one on alluding to genealogy and the other about globalization. Growing up in our household Thanksgiving was always a big feast and my maternal grandmother would recount how her ancestor John Howland fell off the Mayflower and was rescued, later becoming a prominent Pilgrim Father. Ever since being a boy, I’ve had a fascination with Family History but only in recent years has it developed into a full blown historical study.

So what’s an Ahnentafel? It’s a pedigree chart. Pretty simple. But I’d like to talk about my ancestry as an example of DIVERSITY. In my Family Tree are some pretty interesting characters. For starters, there are the Pilgrims. Some of their descendants married Presbyterians, who later married into Quaker lines from the founding Quaker colonies in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. One of my ancestors, Martin Kendig, was the one who founded the Mennonite colony in Lancaster, PA helping people escape persecution in Europe. In my Family Tree I also have Methodists, Baptists, Episcopalians, Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox. I even have an ancestor who was part of the original group called “Millenial Dawnists” out of which the Jehovah’s Witnesses evolved. So you can see my Family Tree is filled with lots of religious history. (If you go WAY back through my mother’s line some are canonized saints in the Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, and Armenian Orthodox churches. Unfortunately, I can only take my father’s ancestry back to the late 1700s.)

So, when you look at my Ahnentafel you’ll see that there are some very diverse branches on that tree. And that’s life. Life is filled with rich diversity. That makes us who we are, our stories. May you have a great Thanksgiving Holiday and celebrate the diversity and richness of your family!

Globalization

2007-11-14T07:38:00.000-06:00

This past September the Board of Trustees approved seven learning goals that had been formulated by the Rockhurst Community the previous year. One of these goals concerns globalization. Here’s an excerpt of what was approved by the Board:

“Through our mission of learning, leadership, and service in the Jesuit tradition, Rockhurst University cultivates a learning and living environment that encourages cura personalis, care and development of the whole person, through reflection and discernment. Within that environment, Rockhurst creates an integrative experience for students to develop skills, competencies, and values in these seven areas:”

It then lists the seven, the third of which is:
“International and Cultural Understanding: The appreciation of cultural differences and commonalities, and the ability to interact with sensitivity and alertness as citizens of the world.”

Thus yesterday afternoon the Faculty Senate unanimously approved the motion: “To endorse the addition of a Global Proficiency to the core curriculum.” I serve on the Core Implementation Committee and we’ll meet tomorrow to address the proposal (and most probably approve it since it arises out of a long process of faculty input). The Faculty as a whole will then need to vote on the issue at the general University Faculty Assembly.

While this might appear as boring stuff, I thought I’d let you see how things work here at Rockhurst. The faculty get involved! Due to our Jesuit mission we believe that we must address the contemporary world and prepare students to live and excel in the global environment with a set of values. To quote from John Donne, an English 17th century poet, “No man is an island.” This is far truer in the 21st century of the World Wide Web and instant media coverage etc. We no longer are merely citizens of our own country, but we are global citizens with a responsibility involving compassion and justice on several fronts: economic, political, moral etc. As a Catholic university we’re also grounded in the teachings of Jesus regarding one’s neighbor. Global awareness also engages us in ecological responsibility and sets the foundation for space exploration and settlement. There needs to be respect for and celebration of the richness of diversity in life (which by its very nature means maintaining differences in a healthy and life-giving manner.)

So the bottom line is Rockhurst is taking steps to equip its students with a vision and ability to live and excel in the global world, not only of the present, but of the future as well. I'm a member of the College of Arts & Sciences and here's our Mission Statement: "Grounded in the Jesuit and Catholic traditions of liberal arts education, the College of Arts and Sciences engages learners in building a foundation of values, integrated knowledge, critical analysis, and personal reflection that prepares graduates to become compassionate, just, and globally aware leaders in a diverse and changing world." This is what we're about at Rockhurst!

Where Did I Come From?

2007-11-07T07:39:00.000-06:00

Kids eventually pose that question. College applications ask about your background and your parents. Historians address the same issue from a broader perspective. Evolutionary scientists tackle it from a different angle. And theologians take yet another approach. But everyone eventually gets around to the same basic question: Where did I come from? Its related to the question about meaning and purpose.

Apart from the birds and the bees (and I’m not talking about ornithologists and apiologists), there’s also the matter of your Family Tree, the field genealogists love to research. I’m am amateur genealogist, that is to say I am not licensed; but I have published six articles, one of which is in the scholarly journal: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. (Some of my ancestors came over on the Mayflower.)

Knowing where we come from gives us a sense of identity, a sense of belonging. Thanksgiving and several religious holidays are right around the corner when families gather together to renew ties and celebrate relationships. This is a perfect opportunity for you to ask your grandparents about where they came from, and not just about dates and place of birth and marriage, but family stories as well. Ask them what they remember about their parents and grandparents and write the stuff down, or better yet burn it. Believe me, you’ll bring a twinkle to their eye and they’ll feel you genuinely care about them and their life story. And once you get a snap shot into their life experiences it’ll make history class, etc so much more interesting. And when you have kids one day, you’ll be able to pass on the living heritage.

So why am I going on about genealogy? Because family history fosters a sense of belonging and enables you to understand family dynamics. “Where do I come from?” is a question centered around identity, connections, and purpose. At Rockhurst we strive to foster a sense of belonging to a community, a new family as it were. People need a sense of connectedness and rootedness. Tap into your own family roots. By being at Rockhurst you can tap into four hundred fifty years of a Jesuit tradition grounded in Catholic roots that go WAY back. Even if you don’t come to Rockhurst, ask your grandparents about their lives and memories and record the info so you can one day pass it on.

I’m a theology proff so bear with me just a bit. In the Gospel of Luke it records Jesus’ genealogy and it takes him back all the way to Adam. It then calls Adam, “son of God.” Jesus’ Family Tree is stressing relationships and rootedness in God. But Luke purposely recorded Jesus as the seventy-seventh descendant. In other words, he was the perfection of what it means to come from God and be in a relationship with God. At Rockhurst you’ll get an education that focuses on the whole person: body, soul, and spirit; an education that enables you not only to answer on multiple levels for your self: Where did I come from? but also Where am I going?

Speaking in Tongues and Other Rad Stuff

2007-10-31T07:46:00.000-05:00

Like I mentioned before, students are pre-registering for Spring classes. One of the things I’m really excited about is how quickly my course TH 3130 Introduction to New Testament Greek filled up. Why? Because it’s a theology course that integrates language into it.

The Foreign Languages classes are filling up as well.

In my class we actually learn the Koine Greek spoken by some of the Apostles, the Greek language in which the New Testament was written. We learn how to conjugate verbs in various tenses as well as decline nouns and adjectives. The Greek is elementary, but enough so that we can appreciate the nuances of the language and how these effect the meaning of passages. The course heavily emphasizes the theological meaning of the NT and issues about translation and interpretation, as well as canon of the Scripture.

At RU we have a fantastic Department of Classical and Modern Languages. The Chair, Rocío De la Rosa Duncan, comes from Mexico and María Luísa Fernández Martínez hails from Spain. While M. Kathleen Madigan who teaches French was born in the US, she was a Fulbright scholar who spent a year in Senegal. She has just created a new French course: Senegalese Literature and Culture. They have lots of exciting course offerings. We also have adjuncts who are highly qualified who teach French and Spanish as well as on occasion offer German, Latin, and even Japanese.

Having a foreign language under your belt is a great marketing tool in the global society. It opens up all sorts of opportunities in education, health care, business, social work, pastoral care, and the sciences, just to name a few. As the world becomes more and more globally interconnected, being multilingual will be a great asset not only in the workplace but also empower one to understand and appreciate other cultures.

Majors in History, English as well as Theology/Religious Studies must take two semesters of a foreign language at a college level. Philosophy majors are also strongly encouraged to take a language. Our newly revamped Global Studies major now requires at least four semesters of a foreign language.

And before I forget to mention it, we have a really strong Study Abroad Program, even for those who don’t know a foreign language. But if you do, it’s an awesome opportunity to immerse yourself in that language and culture.

Being bilingual is totally rad!

Check out Modern Languages at RU http://www.rockhurst.edu/academic/foriegn/index.asp

Study Abroad Program http://www.rockhurst.edu/academic/international/studyabroad.asp

Will the Rats Win?

2007-10-24T13:26:00.000-05:00

It’s hard to say the one thing I like most about Rockhurst, but one of the top things is that it is people oriented. While there is the “institution” and some necessary “bureaucracy,” the underlying drive behind everything being done comes from part of our mission: “transforming lives in the Jesuit tradition.”

We’re a student focused university. While I enjoy being in the classroom, perhaps the most gratifying side of student engagement is when it’s one on one. Lots of students drop by my office, whether for extra help on something they didn’t quite understand in class, or a regular Honors Option meeting, or someone popping in to talk on a more personal level about something going on. (Some even poke their heads in between classes just to chew the fat.) I really enjoy the personal interaction that gets beyond the academic and “theoretical” side of things. Of course in the classroom I always have to maintain an academic presence even while trying to foster subjective interaction with the material, but when it’s all said and done if none of what I’m saying translates into real life, What’s the purpose of it all in the first place?

Rockhurst is about transforming lives. It’s a two way street, many times filled with intersections, and thus choices. As an instructor, I present information and try to open the student up to other perspectives and possibilities. As a teacher, I foster learning where the student reflects, analyzes and applies the information, or even discovers new information and perspectives. To quote Socrates, “The unreflected life isn’t worth living.” Sure I can stumble through life in a daze and go from party to party and be zoned out, or I can walk along a path and notice my surroundings and reflect upon them. Or even better yet, I can run with a goal in focus striving for the finish line and along the way kick up a lot dust in the faces of people who are mere bystanders in life. I can either burn up the track or just sit around and get burned in the sun. Rockhurst is about running the race of life with gusto and getting out of the rat race of life that is meaningless.

Advising--That Time of Year

2007-10-17T08:08:00.000-05:00

Well this week I’m busy meeting with advisees. I have six new freshman advisees this year. Several are in the Honors Program. In a nut shell, the Honors Program takes regular course offerings and ramps them up intellectually and requires more course work. This enables the students to engage the subject matter more deeply than they would in the regular classroom setting. I periodically teach an Honors section of TH 1000 Christianity I: Foundations and do Honors Options with individuals in my other classes that want this level of engagement.

Anyhow, I’m meeting with my Honors Advisees who because of the program they’re in, get to pre-register for classes at the same time Seniors do, thus before everybody else. At Rockhurst we emphasize the Liberal Arts Education—this is foundational. Every student in the whole university, no matter what your eventual major, must fulfill what are called Core Requirements. The Core consists of three proficiencies: Written Communication, Oral Communication, and Mathematics; as well as Seven Modes (the Liberal Arts): Artistic, Historical, Literary, Philosophical, Theological, Scientific-Causal, & Scientific-Relational. We at Rockhurst believe that by taking 52 hours in the Core (give or take depending on which courses you actually choose), this Rock Solid foundation prepares you to function well and serve in society as a well-balanced and well-rounded person. The Core is about transforming lives.

For information on the Core click here: http://www.rockhurst.edu/academic/deansoffice/liberalcore.asp

For info re: the Honors Program: http://www.rockhurst.edu/academic/honors/index.asp

Recent Hawk Sighting

2007-10-09T06:42:00.000-05:00

Well tomorrow is the first day of Fall Break so I thought I better get this out. Just when the first costumed mascot appeared, seems to be a bit of a mystery. The first pic is of the Hawk with my daughter last week, and rumor has it that the Hawk is as sweet as sugar. But who knows who really inhabits the inside of the Hawk at sporting events? The second is a pretty freaky one of the Hawk taken from the 1980 Yearbook (top right). Get a load of that costume! You’ve come a long way baby! (Thank God)

Of course the Hawk had to make an appearance at Rockhurst Day! But just who IS this Hawk? The identity of the person inside the costume is usually a secret. The Hawk never speaks so as to give away who’s inside. But some pretty solid sources claim that the Hawk has been portrayed by gals as well as guys.

But why is the Hawk Rockhurst’s mascot? Rockhurst College was founded in 1910 (obviously a big centennial celebration is already in the plans), but it wasn’t until March 1927 that the Rockhurst athletes landed on a name. Up until then the athletic teams--we had football back then--were simply referred to as the “Blue and White” (our school colors), the “Southsiders” (Rockhurst was on the south side of Kansas City), or the “Irish” (because a lot of Irish Catholics attended the college and many Jesuits were Irish as were the coaches Mason, Ryan, and Halpin).

But in 1927, the coaches decided to have a five week campaign asking suggestions for a permanent name. Three hundred some monikers were submitted with nearly every type of bird and beast nominated. John Cauley, a college freshman, and Donald Rossner, a high school student, both submitted the winning name Hawks. (Originally, Rockhurst College and High School were very closely aligned; the High School was on the same property until 1962.) From March 23, 1927 forward, Rockhurst College (now University) athletes have been known as the Hawks and those at the High School--the Hawklets (young Hawks). For a timeline of Rockhurst History click here and on “Rockhurst Traditions” in the bookmark. http://www.rockhurst.edu/registrar/catalog/images/Catalog0608.pdf

Any alums out there reading this, Do you have any older pictures of the Hawk or know when the Mascot first appeared? Love to hear from you.

Great Opportunities thru RU

2007-10-03T06:49:00.000-05:00

One of the opportunities I have as a professor is to mentor someone during the summer if s/he is awarded a Deans’ Research Fellowship. This past summer I worked with one of our theology majors, Luciano Garofalo, aka Looch, who had received the fellowship based on his proposal and previous academic performance. I had been researching a particular theological aspect of the earliest Greek commentary on the Book of Revelation. The commentary is pretty rare and was just translated into English last year. (I teach a course on the Book of Revelation and its some pretty wild stuff and a fun class.) Anyhow, so Looch decided to work on the same commentary and deal with numerology, the symbolic meaning of numbers. Of course, the Book of Revelation is known for 666, the mark of the beast, and sets of seven. (Looch the Beast is pictured above.)

We had fun meeting; Looch did his research and wrote up an article with the goal of getting it published. I read his draft and he did some outstanding work. With a few suggestions and corrections, we sent it off to the same journal in which my article was going to appear. Last week we just heard from the editor who said, “The article is very scholarly, informative, and very interesting.” It’s going to be published next year along side mine! What the real kicker is, this journal, The Patristic and Byzantine Review, is a multi-lingual high-brow international scholarly journal and tough to get into. So huge congrats to Looch!!! Awesome!

Being at Rockhurst opens up all sorts of opportunities. Three of my former students landed once in a life time summer internships. To read about their amazing opportunuties, click on this link. http://www.rockhurst.edu/news/events/interns.asp
Way to go, Nikki, Sarah, and Jo!

Kickin' It

2007-09-26T11:45:00.000-05:00

Rockhurst Day is right around the corner! It's a great time to come out and have fun, support the Hawks! and meet up with friends. Here's a pic of my wife and daughter two years ago with the Hawk. You just gotta love the Hawk! Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it back to campus until around 7:00 just before the guys start their soccer match (or football as the Brits say--my wife's from London). But Rockhurst Day kicks off earlier with a mini-parade, baby race, and other activities, and women's soccer. Come on out and I'll see ya there. I'm hoping to track down the Hawk and get another photo.

Oh, and there's fireworks at half time!

RU Graduation

2007-09-19T08:14:00.000-05:00

Here's a pic of me and my daughter at one of Rockhurst's Commencement ceremonies. Unfortunately, my lovely wife wasn't in this pic, but you'll get to see her later sometime. Rockhurst graduation is a festive event involving a Baccalaureate Mass followed by refreshments and then the general Commencement the following day. My favorite is Baccalaureate since its more festive and interpersonal. But the whole weekend is a great time for students, family, friends, and professors to celebrate the student's achievements.

Rockhurst Doesn't Taser Those Who Ask Questions

2007-09-19T07:24:00.000-05:00

No matter what question you ask, I won't taser you. I believe in freedom of speech and freedom of inquiry. This is the heart of university life. This is what academic freedom is all about. Of course, we need to act like civilized human beings when we engage one another in conversation. I'm an Associate Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Rockhurst University, and we don't taser students for asking spirited questions, even questions which might appear off the wall to some, or challenging a status quo interpretation.

In my field when talking about God and the meaning of life and "all that stuff," we wrestle with deep questions charged with energy. Personal beliefs, opinions, doubts etc are respected as we explore in an academic fashion the meaning of religion, various models about God, the Christian faith and other faiths. Our two primary courses, TH 1000 Christianity I: Foundations and TH 3000 Christianity II: Development that all RU students must take, challenge the student to think critically about various belief systems and presuppositions while explaining the fundamental core beliefs of Christianity. In the area of theology and religion, while scientific methods are employed from history, anthropology, and psychology (to name a few), the area of God boils down to faith. As a professor I try to enhance the learning process regarding faith and relationship to God (a Higher Power or whatever model you have), while at the same time we try to objectively analyze through reason our myriad perceptions and beliefs about God.

So no matter what questions you ask, I won't taser you. And I believe the true God won't zap you either for being honest with yourself and others as you ponder the reality of the Divine, and if God even does exist at all. God doesn't taser us for asking questions.