Historic First Day Sept. 17; GU celebrates 125 years
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ather Joseph Cataldo, S.J., sought support in Rome for the college he was building in the Rocky Mountain Mission, on the riverbank in Spokane Falls. But bad news came. The Frenchman he had recruited to oversee construction of the college, Father Louis Ruellan, S.J., had died unexpectedly. Seeing the severe impact of this loss on Fr. Cataldo, the Jesuits’ Superior General Anthony Anderledy encouraged Fr. Cataldo to scour Europe and seek the men he needed to start his school. Within eight months he had recruited 36 European Jesuits, four American Jesuits and a dozen scholastics and novices to help him realize his dream. Upon the urging of city fathers, and the pure grit of this young Italian priest, Gonzaga opened on Sept. 17, 1887 with 17 students and 20 Jesuits teachers. Annual tuition was $250. One hundred twenty five years later, on Sept. 17, 2012, Gonzaga will acknowledge and celebrate the Zag effort of Fr. Cataldo and so many others who have grown the small school for boys into an institution of high academic acclaim, tremendous community spirit, and exemplary Jesuit tradition with Historic First Day. President Thayne McCulloh will welcome community, government and University leaders for a breakfast. A food fair from 4-6 p.m. with music, kids’ games and a short address by the president will treat the Gonzaga community and their families to a celebration (stay tuned for more information). Political Science Professor Blaine Garvin will deliver an evening lecture examining the link between the 225 years of the U.S. Constitution and 125 years of Gonzaga (see story below). European priests and brothers operated the school, with a few American recruits thrown in. In fact, six of the Jesuits Fr. Cataldo recruited from Europe would later serve as president at Gonzaga. But Fr. Cataldo was never president. He was Jesuit superior of the Rocky Mountain Mission, and by the time he retired in 1893, 54 priests, 36 brothers and 46 scholastics served the mission. Father James Rebmann, S.J., a German priest, and skilled organizer, served as Gonzaga’s first president. He supervised the completion of the first building, put a faculty and staff in place, oversaw writing of the curriculum and began Gonzaga’s first marketing program to attract boys and young men to the school. Books and supplies arrived from a recently closed school in Wisconsin. Born was a school drawing students from all over the country, including California, New York, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska and North
Dakota, as well as from the Rocky Mountain states. Facts for this story are taken from a new book, Celebrating Gonzaga: The University and Its People, which will be available in September. Local author Michael Schmeltzer tells the stories of the people and
events that spawned an extraordinary collegiate experience, and brought Gonzaga to national prominence. Go to Gonzaga.edu/anniversarybooks to reserve your copy.
Garvin draws parallels between U.S. and GU history
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s part of Gonzaga’s Historic First Day Celebration, Blaine Garvin will present "A Partnership to Be Looked Upon With Other Reverence, or What the Broken Jaw of a Green Plastic Alligator Can Teach Us About Our Country and Gonzaga University.” The interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and professor of political science will give a lecture at 7 p.m. in Cataldo Hall on the history of the constitution in the context of a United States presidential election year and Gonzaga’s 125th Anniversary. Has the good professor, after 40 long years teaching at GU, taken leave of his senses? Or does this strange, convoluted title somehow make sense? What do our country and our University have in common besides long histories? Is the link between Constitution Day and this day of celebration for the
University just a fluke of the calendar? The Constitution created a federal government that can take money from your pocket, send you off to war, and throw you in prison. Gonzaga can flunk you and ruin your life. But, in truth, what both really want is to make you free. But how? James Madison built us one house to live in, Fr. Cataldo another. But both houses are old and often in need of repair. Should we keep on patching them up, trying our best to make them look, well, the way they always have? Or, someday, should we face the fact that the best thing to do is to bulldoze them? Where in the world do we – Americans, Bulldogs – find the leaders we need? Men and women with “sagacious, powerful, and combining minds,” Garvin asks.
Around Campus The Staff Assembly honored Director of Student Accounts Linda Murphy and Assistant Director of Student Activities Dave Rovick at the spring open meeting with the Outstanding Service in Support of Mission Award. Murphy retired June 1 after 35 years helping students and families. She served humbly and without need for recognition. Her kindness and compassion were always evident. Rovick‘s nominator described him as an exceptional role model with a transformational impact on student lives. Rose Mary Volbrecht, philosophy, was re-elected in the spring to a two-year term as Faculty Assembly president, and Linda Pierce, Foley Library, was elected to a one-year term as vice president. The Staff Assembly has elected its executive council for 2012-13: President Jeff Geldien, Law; Secretary Sue Butterfield, Education; Treasurer Allison Lynn, Education; and representatives Mike Kelsey, Alumni Relations; Carol Huston, Registrar; Beth Gordon, Campus Services; Connie Caddis, Organizational Leadership; Dave Rovick, Student Activities; and Steven Allen, Plant Services. Catch the Gonzaga Hoopfest booth June 30-July 1 by the Rotary Fountain in Riverfront Park. Get your photo snapped in front of the Kennel Club or alongside SPIKE – and pick up a Zag fan. Celebrate Unity in the Community with Gonzaga in Riverfront Park on Aug. 18 between 10 a.m.-4 p.m. It’s Spokane’s biggest multi-cultural festival. Five civil engineering students won this year’s American Society of Civil Engineers Sustainable Development Award, presented as part of the People, Prosperity and the Planet Student Design Competition for Sustainability, an annual event organized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Professor Noel Bormann is the adviser.
Cost savings, environmental impact focus of print assessment
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ince Jan. 1 Gonzaga has printed nearly 2 million sheets of paper in on-campus copiers and printers. IT Operations Director Jim Jones has been tasked with reducing that number in the years ahead, and has instituted a print assessment process. Phase one involved narrowing the copy machine vendors to three, Canon, Ricoh and Océ. Phase two involved copier and printer assessments, with focus on College Hall labs, staff space, classrooms, faculty offices and meeting spaces. Vendors will propose ways to reduce energy consumption and save money. “We have some areas on campus where there is a fax machine, laser jet printer, ink jet printer, scanner and copier within five feet
of each other, each consuming electricity, toner and paper,” Jones said. “Many of these can be consolidated into one multi-function printer. The average savings could be 25 to 30 percent.” Jones said an ink jet print costs about 15 cents per page, while a print at Faculty Services can cost less than 2 cents per page. Phase three involves moving to a single vendor to service equipment, and attain savings for the quantity of service under one contract. “We hope that within three to five years we’ll get everything consolidated and devices redeployed to gain maximum efficiency with the devices we already have,” Jones said.
Follett’s wide reach increases merchandise availability, drives affordable options
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ith bookstore operation now in the hands of Follett Higher Education Group a few changes may be noticeable, said Marty Martin, Gonzaga executive vice president. Follett, which operates more than 930 stores in the United States and Canada, is able to negotiate the best prices on a wide assortment of quality, emblematic and branded merchandise, apparel, gifts and supplies, Martin said. Students will also see an improved selection of affordable textbook-buying options through a robust array of new, used, rental and digital book sources. Follett will buy back textbooks ordered by faculty for the next semester at 50 percent of the retail price until the needed quantities are met. Current edition books not ordered locally for the following semester will be bought back at 30 percent for redistribution elsewhere in North America through Follett’s network. As part of its ongoing mission
to drive student success, Follett will provide $7,500 in scholarship dollars for students to purchase course materials - administered through Student Financial Services. Follett continues to operate both the bookstore in the COG and the Zag Shop on Boone at Ruby. When the bookstore is operational in the new retail and parking complex, the two stores will be combined into one location on Cincinnati between Boone and DeSmet, and the existing Zag Shop on Boone will be repurposed, Martin said. The new bookstore will occupy 15,000 square feet, which will more than double the total space of the current locations combined. Follett is in the process of selling out current stock and restocking with new merchandise. The transition should be complete in August.
Bloomsday champs . . . again
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onzaga’s Law and Order Bloomsday Corporate Cup team defended its women’s division title in May. But this group of women didn’t leave it all on the course. Some are now preparing for the July 8 Missoula Marathon, with preparation continuing through summer and fall with the November New York Marathon in their sights. They run together weekly and often pass the time with storytelling and singing. The champs are Jackie Van Allen, Controller’s Office; Vesta Coufal, Math; Lisa Bradley, Law; Mia Bertagnolli, Biology; and Shannon Overbay, Math. Special thanks to the 200 Gonzaga water station volunteers, organized by Connie Caddis, Mary Joan Hahn and Kurt Heimbigner.
NOTEWORTHY New Hires Kristen Paul, graduate and marketing recruitment specialist, Business; Abbey Shuster, research technician, Forest Service Grant; Leslie Hebert, director of marketing and recruitment, Virtual Campus; Chris Heitner, custodian, Plant Services; Sarah Trummel, acquisition assistant III, Law Library Position Changes/Promotions Zoeanna Mayhook, library technician III, Library Services Goodbyes Shannon Dineen-Setzer, assistant director of admissions, School of Law; Colleen Fox, marketing and recruitment specialist, Business; Scott Franz, director, Bookstore; Rodolfo Mondragon, international relations specialist, Unity House; Brenda Wheeler, administrative assistant, Plant Services Anniversaries Linda Murphy, director, Student Accounts Timothy Hatcher, working groundkeeper supervisor IV, Plant Services; Wanda Reynolds, director, Study Abroad Michael Carey, dean, Virtual Campus Vicki Craigen, tech support specialist, Athletics Brett Hendricks, computer labs manager, Arts & Sciences; Dennis Horn, dean, Engineering; Diana Lartz, word processor, Faculty Services; Katherine Sherrick, trustee/regent coordinator, President’s Office Janice Carruthers, academic credentials evaluator, Registrar; Dan Garrity, senior lecturer, Communication Arts; Elizabeth Kennedy, administrative secretary, Planned Giving; David Lindsay, director, Student Activities; Rodolfo Pagsanjan, conference manager, Campus Services; Megan Self, buyer II, Plant Services; Sonja Steele, administrative secretary II, Athletics Beata Arciszewska-Russo, lecturer, ESL; John Correira, telecommunications tech II, Plant Services; Nicole Homsher, residence hall director, Housing; Michael Lavoie, computer support analyst II, Law; Barry Loe, security officer; Marc Manganaro, dean, Arts & Sciences; Lisa Mispley Fortier, assistant women’s basketball coach; Jason Varnado, assistive tech specialist, DREAM; Michelle Wheatley, assistant director, University Ministry
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Cradle Call Randi Cadena, accounting assistant in Controller’s office and husband Jose had a baby girl. Mia was born on June 6.
FOCUS ON … Dan Garrity’s Turkish Trek By Dan Garrity For three years, I’ve been part of the reason people don’t feel so sorry for us college professors in the summer. This July will mark my third study abroad experience in Turkey. Since I teach digital media, the students who come with me create videos to share what inspires them about Asia Minor. That’s what I call the Best Homework Assignment Ever. Here’s an example of BHAE, ‘11. http://youtu.be/14rKnWYKGnw This year, the assignment is even more challenging. In July, over the course of a 30-day bus trip through Turkey, we’ll produce a series of Rick Steves-like programs, with three significant differences. Our Rick Steves is named Aydin Aygun. He’s a native, he’s been a tour guide in his country for 20 years, and he’s a Zag (MA in Religious Studies ’04). That’s why we’re calling the program ‘The Turkish Zag Travel Show’. Check out this preview of Aydin in his element. http://youtu.be/ot2kawccqOw We’re on YouTube, not PBS, so our shows will be shorter. Our crew of four students will have 10 minutes to tell the story of each site. And since relevance and speed are inextricably linked in messages delivered via social media, we’ll upload each of our shows the day after they’re shot. Our show has the Gonzaga Mission at its core. Every academic program at GU teaches students how they can make a difference with their God-given gifts; in our discipline that means using digital storytelling to bring the world a little closer together. I don’t believe the universe needs another reality show that celebrates the worst of us. I want to challenge my students to
“Professor Dan” in Istanbul with students from last year’s trip.
create a show that is entertaining, but also one that makes you a little smarter, and a little more hopeful about the world. I’m anxious to see if you think the ‘Best Homework Assignment Ever, 2012’ qualifies. Our first episode goes up July 7 with subsequent shows posted July 10, 15, 20, 25 and 31. Follow on Twitter: #guprofdan Subscribe to YouTube channel: gonzagatv15 Like us on Facebook: GUTV official page
Longtimers honored
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he following Gonzaga faculty and staff members were honored for their years of service at President Thayne McCulloh’s annual Anniversarians Dinner, May 16 at McCarthy Athletic Center. Those reaching service milestones (in multiples of five) included: 45 Years Anthony Via, S.J., director of development, Gonzaga-In-Florence 40 Years Blaine Garvin, professor, Political Science 35 Years Linda Grigsby, payroll director, Controller’s Office; Nancy Masingale, supervisor, Faculty Services; Linda Sue McClure, accounting assistant, Controller’s Office; Linda Murphy, director, Student Accounts 30 years Eileen Bell-Garrison, dean, Foley Library; Dale Goodwin, director, Publications; Timothy Hatcher, working groundskeeper supervisor, Grounds; Anwar Khattak, professor, Civil Engineering; Cecelia McMullen, circulation supervisor, Law Library; Kathleen Morrison, administrative assistant, Business; Scott Murray, director, Campus Services; Cheryl Peterson, custodian, Plant Services; Susie Prusch, manager, University Events; Robert Prusch, professor, Biology; Edward Vacha, professor, Sociology; Rose Mary Volbrecht, professor, Philosophy; John Wagner, associate professor, Philosophy; Robert Waterman, associate professor, Political Science; Sue Weitz, vice president, Student Life 25 years Ken Anderson, professor, Business; Gabriella Brooke, professor, Modern Language; Myrna Carroll, senior staff accountant, Controller’s Office; Brian Clayton, associate professor, Philosophy; Gayle Clayton, administrative assistant, Athletics; Scott Coble S.J., assistant professor, Mathematics; Kimberly Gieber, senior faculty assistant, Philosophy; Thomas Jeannot, professor, Philosophy, Marguerite Marin, associate professor, Sociology; Colleen McMahon, associate professor, Communication Arts; Mike Roth, Athletic Director; Pamela S. Siedhoff, assistant to the vice president, Finance Professor Emeritus Kay Carnes, professor, Business-Accounting; Michael Cook, S.J., professor, Religious Studies
Fundraising goal surpassed thanks to help from faculty, staff
Law School turns 100
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n 1912 when a group of 14 students and four faculty members met with Gonzaga President Louis Taelman, S.J., it was the first Gonzaga University School of Law class. “The event had been long in coming,” wrote Dan Webster in the Law School’s first history book, Celebrating Gonzaga School of Law: The First Hundred Years, which may be reserved at gonzaga.edu/ anniversarybooks. It is due out in September. “As early as December 1903, Archbishop Alexander Christie, then archbishop of Oregon City, had spoken of founding a law school at Gonzaga” to give students all the intellectual and material advantages of any eastern college. The law school opened on Oct. 1, 1912, and Gonzaga became a university. Spokane attorney E.J. Cannon became the school’s first dean, and would serve 24 years. His influence was especially important in enlisting attorneys and judges who volunteered during those early years, and became known as “Gonzaga’s million dollar faculty.” Now, 100 years later, with a modern and efficient building overlooking the Spokane River, and a faculty Dean Jane Korn calls the school’s greatest strength, the law school is transforming its approach to teaching the law with a new skills-based curriculum to better prepare students for the next century. A number of special events are planned to celebrate this historic milestone. Red Mass Sept. 11, 5:30 p.m. University Chapel, College Hall Presentation of the 2012 Distinguished Judicial Service Award Centennial Kickoff Celebration Lecture by Scott Turow Attorney and Author of “Presumed Innocent” Sept. 20, 7 p.m. East Lobby, McCarthey Athletic Center
Grotto inspires reflection
Gonzaga has received funding from several Gonzaga Montana alumni and friends of Father Tony Lehmann, S.J., to create a new grotto between College Hall and St. Aloysius Church. Construction is under way and due for completion in September. The grotto is designed to honor our Blessed Mother Mary and draw community members for reflection and prayer. More details, including a ribbon-cutting date, will follow.
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Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in session at GU Oct. 3, 2-5 p.m. Barbieri Courtroom, School of Law Seattle Area Centennial Celebration Feb. 9, 2013, 5-7 p.m. Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery Woodinville, Wash. U.S. Supreme Court Swearing In March 4, 2013 Washington, D.C. All-Class Law Reunion: Decade Gatherings April 19, 2013 Venues in Spokane Law Centennial Gala April 21, 2013, 6 p.m. The Davenport Hotel Spokane Law Commencement May 11, 2013, 9:15 a.m. McCarthey Athletic Center
onzaga fundraising eclipsed the $16 million mark last fiscal year, with more than 13,700 alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends contributing, an alltime record, said Dori Sonntag, acting director of development. Nearly 22 percent of Gonzaga’s faculty and staff gave back to the University last year. Alumni giving topped 19 percent, which ranked the University third in the West, according to 2011 U.S. News and World Report. Engagement leads to investment, Sonntag said. More than 30 alumni chapters across the country are better engaging alumni than ever before. “And we are doing a good job of building more personal relationships with our alumni, parents and friends,” Sonntag said. “In true Jesuit style we are reaching out to meet donors in their cities, and helping them to understand the value of making scholarships available to current and future students.” Gonzaga deploys 15 development officers to make contacts throughout the country and Canada. Last year Gonzaga development officers made 2,273 visits. “What is so important is that our faculty and staff have been integral in our efforts to engage our donors,” Sonntag said. “They are building and maintaining relationships with alumni and parents and assisting in gift conversations that impact their teaching and opportunities for today’s students, such as research needs, lab equipment, programmatic support, and financial aid.” More than one-third of the money raised last year was directed to student financial aid with the remaining funds supporting academic programs, capital maintenance, athletics and general operations.