To walk with a saint and emulate her ways

As the committee responsible for planning the 100th birthday of Cabrini College's founding president was deliberating the format of the celebrations in her honor, we shared many stories about Sister Ursula Infante, MSC. It's hard to imagine all that this revered and beloved Missionary Sister has witnessed, experienced and affected during the course of her lifetime. In attempting to compose the wording for her birthday invitations the committee struggled how to adequately capture the vitality of this woman and the significance of this particular moment in time.

Finally, it was Kevin Thompson, of the College Relations office, who expressed it _J,o well: "She has walked with a SAINT, founded a COLLEGE and witnessed the breath of an entire CENTURY." Indeed. And much, much in addition. As with St. Frances X. Cabrini, everything Sister Ursula has undertaken in her life has been for the service of others. All she has accomplished she has done well, humbly and for the love and honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

One need only spend a small amount of time in the company of this remarkable centenarian to gain a sense of the spunk and determination that define her character. Though her gait may have slowed a bit at 100, her clear blue eyes and easy smile reveal a woman of great wisdom, faith and inner strength.

Anna Lawrence Infante was received into the order of the Missionary Sisters by Mother Frances Cabrini herself and was given the religious name, Ursula. Th.e-j'car--was1915. World War I was raging. In a time when few women were able to continue their studies beyond eighth grade or high school, Sister Ursula studied chemistry and went on to become a registered pharmacist. She spent many years teaching at Mother Cabrini High School in New York City, eventually becoming the principal. Women who attended Mother Cabrini High School speak fondly of their teacher recalling her demanding, yet kind approach to education. She sought only the very best from and for "her girls."

Respect and affection ran so deeply for Sister Ursula that when in the 1950s she was asked by her superior to "go found a college" many of her students from Mother Cabrini High School followed her to Radnor, Pennsylvania, to form the core of the first graduating class of Cabrini College.

The road to founding that college was not without its difficulties. The hierarchy in the Philadelphia archdiocese was not sure that there was a need for another Catholic college in the area - there being seven already in existence - and did not encourage the Missionary Sisters' plans for the former Dorrance estate, Woodcrest.

Undaunted, Sister Ursula made the rounds of the area Catholic college presidents and enlisted their support. In the end, the diocese acquiesced and Cabrini College opened its doors in September 1957. At the age of 60, when many others are contemplating their retirement, Sister Ursula had rallied other colleges and universities to her cause, hired a faculty and staff, recruited incoming classes and transformed a former estate into a residential college of liberal arts and sciences for women.

Sister Ursula, like St. Cabrini, felt that education was the means for women to lead and take their rightful place in the world.

In the 1950s and 60s, for those women fortunate enough to undertake college study, options were far more limited than they are today. Teaching and nursing were the primary career paths. Yet, Sister Ursula always told "her girls" they could be anything they wanted to be if they worked hard to achieve their goals.

Today, these women speak

by Nancy Costello mission integration

with affection of the mentor and guide they found in Sister Ursula. They describe her as a veritable whirlwind of energy who could be found everywhere on campus. Many recall skipping classes and having Sister Ursula track them down in their rooms suggesting they quickly change their minds and attend. Truly, she believed opportunities for learning were not to be wasted.

Sister Ursula Infante guided Cabrini College as inaugural president until the early fall of 1967. It happened to be the year I entered Cabrini as a freshman. I shall never forget my first encounter with her. My class (all 94 of us) bad been asked to gather in the Sacred Heart Hall gym. There, we found neat rows of packets containing requisite student items such as copybooks, pens, course catalogs, chapel veils and rosaries.

We, assuming they were for us, helped ourselves to the packets and continued milling about. All of a sudden a crisp, no-nonsense voice rang out, "Young ladies, I will thank you to put those items back! You will learn that at Cabrini College, ladies wait until they are instructed what to do." We had just met the formidable Sister Ursula.

In seeing her at that moment, one would never have suspected her age, which by then was 70. Her energy undiminished, her term of office as president, nonetheless, had drawn to a close and she was returning to Rome where she was to continue her service as a missionary sister.

The send off from the college was a grand farewell with balloons, bouquets and music. It had only been a few weeks since our first encounter and as freshmen, and we could scarcely comprehend the magnitude of her leaving campus, yet, somehow we knew Cabrini College would always retain the spirit and vision of this risk-taking and faith-filled woman.

Loquitur

LETTER To THE EDITOR

Looking for a little respect Dear Loquitur,

In regards to the article on the tricaptains printed last week, we are appalled by the lack of respect shown by the Loquitur's editors and staff towards the N basketball program. The quote "meaningless N games" was written by James Kuhn, who obviously has little understanding of sports and the pride that comes with being on a team. It is also clear that the Loquitur staff has no respect for N athletes because the coverage of the team has been non-existent, including no listings of N games. We conclude that the Loquitur would rather give their amateur opinion on professionalsports teams then cover all of Cabrini's sports. The last time we checked, neither the Phillies, Eagles, Flyers nor Sixers ever represented Cabrini College. As members of the N team, we workjust as hard as the varsity team and we take our team seriously. We demonstrate our dedicationdaily when we attend practices beginning as early as 8 a.m. and some that finish as late as 1 a.m. We think that the comment should be retracted and an apology given to the 15 dedicated players and Coach Rowe. We also suggest that anyone who thinks that N basketball is "meaningless" should strap on a set of sneakers and come sweat with us, and see how "meaningless" it really is. We guarantee they would change their mind.

The men's N basketball team

Correction Box

u In the front page story of the Jan. 31 issue of Loquitur, "New schedule change raises student concern," Dr. Cynthia Halpern was misquoted in three instances.

We regret the error.

Loquitur is established as a forum for student expression and as a voice in the uninhibited, robust, free and open discussio.n of issues.

Tanaglia

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Loqoitur is a laboratof) newspaper wmten. edited and produced by students of Cabrini College regmered,in COM 346, 350. 35 I. 352, 353 and 354. Members of the campus community are mvited to work on or subnm stories for publication. Oaly studenLsregistered in the above classes, however. are eligible to receive academic credit. Subscription price is $25 per year and ls iocluded in the benefits secured by tuition and fees. Loquitur welcomes lellers to the editor. Leners should be signed and the authorship known to the editors. However. if the writer wishes and the editor agrees. the writer·, name may be left off the publication and an inscription inserted. such as name withheld at the request of the wnter." Leners to the editor should be submitted by ooon on Monda)'S.