| Summary: | Spring 2006 issue of Universitas: the magazine of Saint Louis University Experts Give Advice on Exercise Women’s Soccer Makes History Match Roommates With Rooms Remembering One Jesuit’s Life FEATURES DEPARTMENTS Photo by Kevin Lowder 2 On Campus Biondi is “Citizen of the Year” Research Building goes green New vice presidents join SLU Alum is a Jeopardy champion 6 Billiken News SLU introduces a track and field program Swimming and diving have a record year 7 Campaign Update Arena groundbreaking planned for 2006 24 Class Notes Catch up with classmates 28 In Memoriam Remembering those members of the SLU community who recently died 29 Off the Shelf Seven books from the SLU community 30 Alumni Events Find SLU alumni activities wherever you live 32 Perspective An alum recounts her work with St. Louis-area children who have survived war trauma 33 The Last Word Letters to the editor A Tale of Three Roommates It’s the Ignatian Anniversaries Year for Jesuit institutions worldwide. Find out what (and who) we’re celebrating. By Dr. Ronald Modras 12 16 18 22 Is Your Path to Fitness Blocked By Hurdles? Making exercise part of your normal routine is easy. By Nancy Solomon Reaching Their Goal The SLU women’s soccer team marked 10 years with a major achievement. By Diana Koval Cool for School Students who live on campus have made themselves at home.By Billy Brennan Salvadoran Savior Jon Cortina, S.J., lived a life “for others.” By Sue Thomson A late winter snow frosts campus. 1 UNIVERSITAS SPRING 2006 EDITOR Laura Geiser (A&S ’90, Grad ’92) CONTRIBUTORS Allison Babka Burney Billy Brennan (A&S ’04) Diana Koval Shannon McGuire (Student Assistant) Dr. Ronald Modras Rachel Otto Nancy Solomon Sue Thomson (Grad B&A ’86) DESIGN Art Direction: Matthew Krob Universitas is published by Saint Louis University. Opinions expressed in Universitas are those of the individual authors and not necessarily those of the University administration. Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs are welcome but will be returned only if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Letters to the editor must be signed, and letters not intended for publication should indicate that fact. The editor reserves the right to edit all items. Address all mail to Universitas, DuBourg Hall 39, 221 N. Grand, St. Louis, Mo. 63103. We accept e-mail at utas@slu.edu and fax submissions at (314) 977-2249. Address fax submissions to Editor, Universitas. Postmaster: Send address changes to Universitas, Saint Louis University, 221 N. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63103. World Wide Web address: www.slu.edu/pr/universitas.html Universitas is printed by Universal Printing Co. and mailed by Specialty Mailing. Worldwide circulation: 111,720 © 2006, Saint Louis University All rights reserved. VOLUME 32, ISSUE 2 1) He was a nobleman. He was born “Iñigo de Loyola” to a family of strong traditions and a history of misdeeds. 2) He grew up without his mother. She died shortly after his birth, and Ignatius was raised by a nurse and a sister-in-law. 3) He was, well, a “bon vivant.” As Powers writes: “The very stamp of a man’s masculinity and reputation lie in both his sword and his sexuality. The future saint met both expectations exceedingly well.” 4) At 28, he was given last rites. This followed a cannonball injury that shattered one of Ignatius’ legs and seriously damaged the other during a battle at Pamplona, Spain. His convalescence from this life-threatening injury changed his life and set him on the path to spirituality. 5) He had cosmetic surgery. He demanded that a bone protruding from his leg be sawed off. Remember, this was long before anesthesia. 6) He was an early proponent of highlighters. When copying text from his spiritual readings, Ignatius wrote the words of Jesus in red, and the words of Mary in blue. 7) He became a beggar. Ignatius lived for a period as a pilgrim, wearing sackcloth and one rope-soled shoe. 8) He looked terrible. During his years as a pilgrim, Powers reports, “He gave up meat and wine, staples of the Basque diet, and stopped taking care of his appearance, of which he had been so proud.” 9) He felt terrible, and he felt terrible about it. Ignatius dealt with severe abdominal pains for years. His autopsy revealed “almost innumerable” gallstones; today his condition would be diagnosed as biliary colic. He later instructed the Jesuits that, unlike him, they should not harm themselves with extreme fasting and penances. 10) When he died, there were a thousand Jesuits. He started with a band of six companions in 1541, and at the time of his death in 1556, there were 1,000 living in Europe, India and Brazil. This year, Jesuit schools and institutions all over the world are celebrating the Ignatian Anniversaries Year. At the request of Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J., superior general of the Society of Jesus, the entire Jesuit family is marking the 500th anniversary of the births of St. Francis Xavier and Blessed Peter Favre, two of the very first Jesuits, as well as the 450th anniversary of the death of St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. (Read more about these fascinating men in Dr. Ron Modras’ article on page 8.) Here at Saint Louis University, we started the observance last fall with lectures, prayers and discussions. We are continuing this spring with more presentations and conversations. SLU’s events for the Ignatian anniversaries year continue to present extraordinary opportunities to focus on our Jesuit heritage and its impact on our world today. While it’s easy to get caught up in the far-reaching influence of these men and their work, I sometimes like to remind myself that Ignatius and his brothers were human beings, just like you and me. They were complicated individuals who dealt with fear and joy and even health issues every day. Several years ago, I read an article by Tom Powers, S.J., called “21 Things You Didn’t Know About Ignatius” in Loyola Marymount University’s Vistas magazine. Although the article appeared almost six years ago, its message has stayed with me. Among many others, some of the article’s facts about Ignatius included: For me, it’s often comforting to view Ignatius as a person and not just as a saint. When we approach his life and works in relation to our own, we can truly follow his example and “find God in all things.” LAWRENCE BIONDI, S.J. To read the complete text of “21 Things You Didn’t Know About Ignatius” by Tom Powers, S.J., visit: www.slu.edu/pr/ universitas.html. photo by Jim Visser President’s Message2 U NIVERSITAS www.slu.edu 3 U NIVERSITAS SPRING 2006 New VPs join SLU Thomas W. Keefe, former president of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Foundation, is Saint Louis University’s new vice president for development and University relations. He joined the University Dec. 1. In addition to heading the University of Wis- consin Oshkosh Foundation, Keefe was also executive director for university advancement. During his tenure, grant support increased 130 percent, foundation pledges increased 295 percent, and the number of donors increased. Previously, Keefe was executive director of the Catholic Aid Foundation of St. Paul, Minn. He also served as associate vice president of institutional advancement at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Frank Reale, S.J., (A&S ’74) became SLU’s new vice presi- dent for mission and ministry Jan. 1. The former provincial for the Jesuits of the Mis- souri Province, Reale had served in campus ministry as chaplain to SLU’s School of Law since August 2004. He now oversees all areas of mission and ministry, including campus ministry and pastoral care. From 1997-2003, Reale led about 300 Jesuits who serve in fi ve states and Belize. He also worked closely with the leadership of the province’s univer- sities, high schools, retreat houses and parishes. Reale served the Missouri Province for 15 years. He was assistant for formation/secondary edu- cation and vocation director. He also taught at St. Louis University and Rockhurst High Schools. photo by Allison Babka Burney photo by Jim Visser Detailing the construction of SLU’s Biomedical Research Building square feet of exterior glass To check out the progress of SLU’s Research Building, visit researchbuilding.slu.edu and click on the “Webcam” box. tons of structural steel (250 tons of rebar) sprinkler heads columns outside the building approximate tons of dirt removed working days of construction Biondi named ‘Citizen of the Year’ Saint Louis University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J., was named St. Louis’ “Citizen of the Year” for 2005. Awarded by a committee of former recipients, the honor is given to a commu- nity leader who demonstrates concern for St. Louis’ growth and vitality. The honor, sponsored by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, was announced Jan. 1. Past recipients of the award, which was established in 1955, include Jack Buck, John Danforth, August Busch III, Ozzie Smith and former SLU President Paul Reinert, S.J. SLU researchers test bird fl u vaccine Bird fl u infections in humans have prompted a new study at Saint Louis University. Through a study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, SLU researchers will test an inves- tigational bird fl u vaccine in children ages 2 to 9, a population that is especially vul- nerable to infl uenza. The National Institute of Allergy and In- fectious Diseases, part of the NIH, already has tested a new H5N1 avian infl uenza vaccine in healthy adults at clinical sites across the coun- try. Now that safety data are available from the fi rst adult study, NIAID is testing this vaccine in other populations, including children. SLU will conduct a research study using a killed fl u virus vaccine for the bird fl u virus, known as A/H5N1. This experimental vac- cine was made the same way as “regular” fl u vaccine that is given to people every year be- fore fl u season. In this study, researchers are evaluating the investigational vaccine’s safety and ability to stimulate antibodies, part of the body’s proteins that fi ght infections, in children. Study participants may receive two or three doses of the investigational vaccine. There is also a chance that participants will receive a placebo injection of saltwater in- stead of the investigational fl u vaccine. Na- tionwide, 120 children will be vaccinated. SLU is a ‘Top 50’ Business The St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association named Saint Louis University one of its “Greater St. Louis Top 50 Businesses Shaping Our Future” for 2005. In the December issue of Commerce, the RCGA’s monthly magazine, SLU is recognized for being one of the region’s largest employ- ers and for its commitment to Midtown St. Louis. The magazine highlights the University’s new biomedical Research Building, which is expected to serve as an anchor for the life science business district when it opens in 2007. SLU was the only college or university to make the list. Belshe honored by Scientifi c American In the December issue of Scientifi c American, Dr. Robert Belshe (pictured left), director of the Center for Vaccine Development at the School of Medicine is listed as one of “Scientifi c American’s 50 for 2005: Leaders Shaping the Future of Technology.” Belshe was singled out for “getting serious about fl u,” citing his 2004 article in the New England Journal of Medicine on intradermal fl u vaccinations as an alternative to the traditional fl u shot. “This insight could also lead to an array of new techniques for adminis- tering regular fl u vaccine to groups, such as the elderly, who often have a weak response to the traditional fl u shot,” the magazine writes. Belshe has conducted research related to infl uenza for more than two decades. Research Building goes green Saint Louis University’s new bio- medical Research Building could become the largest facility of its kind in the St. Louis area to earn a “green” designation from the U.S. Green Building Council, a leading non-profi t group dedi- cated to sustainable building design and construction. The University is seeking silver certifi cation in Leadership Energy & Environmental Design, a rating system ad- ministered by the council. The LEED Green Building Rating Sys- tem is a voluntary national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. To qualify for LEED certifi ca- tion, buildings must meet certain standards in energy effi ciency and other areas. Very few major research facilities seek “green” status, said Punit Jain, associate vice president and sustainable design coor- dinator with Cannon Design, the SLU Re- search Building’s architect. That’s because these structures have signifi cant construc- tion and operational demands, he said. Al- though there are increased costs associated with constructing a LEED-certifi ed build- ing, Denise Taylor, SLU’s associate vice president for facilities planning, said the building’s design will save the University money in operational costs. 45,000 Thanksgiving in New Orleans Nearly 40 Saint Louis University students spent their Thanksgiving holiday in New Orleans participating in rebuilding efforts, rather than heading home to celebrate with family and friends. While in New Orleans, the students worked with volunteers from Celebration Church, a Christian church with 3,000 members located just outside of New Orleans. Although one of its facilities was eight feet under water for 10 days, the church has conducted relief efforts since the disaster struck. The SLU students served on a food line that provided 4,000 meals a day, assisted with rebuilding and clean-up projects in the hardest hit areas and handed out supplies to local residents. photo by Ellen Weis photo by Jay Fram‘Keen Vision’ at SLUMA Through July 17, the Saint Louis University Museum of Art is presenting “Keen Vision: The Gary C. Werths Collection.” The exhibition is the third in a series showcasing the private art collections of St. Louisans. The collection features the art and sculpture of contemporary European and American artists such as Jacques Lipchitz, Deborah Butterfield, Jim Dine, Fernando Botero and Pablo Picasso. It also includes works by contemporary glass sculptors Dale Chihuly, William Morris and Lino Tagliapietra. The exhibit is free and open to the public. SLUMA’s hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Open Tuesdays by appointment. For more information, visit sluma.slu.edu. photo by Jim Visser the ARTS at SLU William Morris, Canopic Jar: Buck (Antlers) 1992 News Briefs Dr. Mark Varvares (Med ’86), a head and neck surgeon and department chairman of otolaryngology at the School of Medicine, is now the director of Saint Louis University Cancer Center. He remains chair of the department of otolaryngology–head and neck surgery, a position he assumed after leaving his faculty position at Harvard University Medical School and the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston. Dr. Bjong Wolf Yeigh has stepped down as the dean of Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology. Dr. Neil Seitz, professor of finance and former dean of the John Cook School of Business, is serving as interim Parks dean while a search begins for Yeigh’s replacement. Dr. Michael Sproule, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, will resign from his position effective June 30 and will join the faculty as a professor of communication. Graduate School Dean Don Brennan will serve as interim dean during the 2006-07 fiscal year. He will continue to serve as dean of the Graduate School. Ben Abell (A&S ’60, Grad ’65), a professor of meteorology in the department of earth and atmospheric sciences, has been named to the St. Louis Radio Hall of Fame. A staple of local weather forecasting, Abell has appeared on several St. Louis stations since the early 1960s. Since 1972 he has reported the weather on local National Public Radio affiliate KWMU. Bosnia’s national news magazine, Slobodna Bosna, has selected a researcher in the School of Public Health as one of the 50 most successful Bosnian immigrants in the world. The magazine, which is similar to Time and Newsweek, chose Dr. Ajlina Karamehic in part for her work on a unique St. Louis campaign to educate Bosnian women about breast cancer. MOCRA shows works from its collection Through July 30, Saint Louis University’s Museum of Contemporary Religious Art (MOCRA) is presenting a selection of works from its collection and work on extended loan. In addition to perennial favorites by Michael Tracy, Thomas Skomski, Shahzia Sikander and Eleanor Dickinson, several recent acquisitions will be displayed for the first time. Charlotte Lichtblau’s Resurrection (The Other Shore) (pictured) is a poignant visualization of the Christian hope of life beyond death. Visit MOCRA to see it and other works that help visitors understand religious faith and experiences in new and unexpected ways. Call (314) 977-7170 or visit mocra.slu.edu for more information. Charlotte Lichtblau, Resurrection (The Other Shore), 1985, oil on canvas, collection of Museum of Contemporary Religious Art, Saint Louis University 4 UNIVERSITAS www.slu.edu 5 UNIVERSITAS SPRING 2006 SLU leads in minority opportunities Saint Louis University has again been recognized as a leader in providing educational opportunities to minority and underrepresented students. The national magazine Diverse — Issues In Higher Education, formerly known as Black Issues in Higher Education, ranked Saint Louis University among the country’s top 100 in producing graduate degrees to students of color. SLU tied with Harvard and Stanford universities on the list of doctoral degrees awarded to African Americans. Since 1987, the Saint Louis University Graduate School has been ranked among the top five Catholic colleges and universities in the nation in the number of doctoral degrees granted overall. SLU alum is Jeopardy champ A: WHO IS TOM P. KAVANAUGH (A&S ’01)? “I’ve always been able to remember useless bits of information,” Kavanaugh said. “It’s just never come in handy before, until now.” All those “useless bits of information” paid off — literally. Kavanaugh’s total earnings of more than $140,000 place him high on Jeopardy’s list of non-tournament, big-money winners. Last spring, he traveled to Chicago for Jeopardy’s 50-question test and buzzer audition. September brought the call that he was in, and the shows were taped in October. “When the show aired in January, I watched with my parents and friends,” he said. “It was weird to watch, and so frustrating because I can’t believe I missed certain questions.” For Kavanaugh, SLU runs in the family. He attended the University under the watchful eye of uncle John Kavanaugh, S.J. (A&S ’65, Grad ’66, ’71), professor of philosophy. Brother John (A&S ’95) and father Tom (Pub Ser ’71) also are alumni. Kavanaugh lives in south St. Louis and is a screenwriter. He and Chris Welling (A&S ’97, Law ’00) have founded Murdoch Street Productions. SLU partners with Latin American schools Saint Louis University has established a partnership with Jesuit universities in Latin America. SLU will help college students from across the nation who might not be able to afford a Jesuit university education in the United States attend three Latin-American institutions: the Universidad Iberoamericana in Puebla, Mexico; the Universidad Alberto Hurtado in Santiago, Chile; and the Pontifica Universidad Catolica de Ecuador in Quito, Ecuador. But that is just one facet of the program, said Dr. Paul Garcia, director of international studies. He said another goal is to provide an opportunity for students from these Latin American schools to attend classes at SLU. His team is looking to financially assist these students through a new Arts and Sciences endowment that is fueled by corporate sponsors and national foundations. He also hopes that faculty members from these institutions — many of whom do not hold terminal degrees — could pursue their doctorates at SLU as well. Plans also are in the works for retired SLU faculty or staff members or current faculty members on sabbatical to lead brief, intensive educational sessions in Latin America. They would serve as volunteers, specializing in fields unique to the three universities. The three Latin American institutions would sponsor housing for the volunteers, and a second new endowment would help defray airfare and health insurance costs. Ivy league The Saint Louis University campus is known for its statues, but as lifelike as some are, none have been really alive — until now. This fall, a 15-foot Billiken topiary sprung up on Grand Boulevard right in front of Busch Student Center. The topiary, which is made of English ivy, should fare well through St. Louis winters. It was created by a custom topiary firm in Kansas. Biomed engineer is ‘Professor of the Year’ Dr. Rebecca Kuntz Willits, associate professor of biomedical engineering, was named Missouri’s “Professor of the Year” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). Willits, who teaches in SLU’s Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, was selected from nearly 400 top professors in the United States. Known for integrating research into her classes, Willits has been recognized for providing research opportunities for undergraduate students. photo by Jim Visser photos by Jeffery Vaughn photo by Kevin Lowder photo by Kevin Lowder Back home again The St. Louis Jesuits, who were featured in the Fall 2005 Universitas, reunited for a sold-out concert, “Music of Hope,” Feb. 25 in St. Francis Xavier College Church. Pictured from left are Tim Manion (A&S ’76); John Foley, S.J. (A&S ’68, Grad ’68, ’74); Bob Dufford, S.J. (A&S ’67, Grad ’72, ’75); Dan Schutte (A&S ’72); and Roc O’Connor, S.J. (A&S ’73). The group’s newest CD, Morning Light, and a book, The St. Louis Jesuits: Thirty Years, are available from Oregon Catholic Press. THIS SLU GRAD WITH A GOOD MEMORY RECENTLY HAD A NINE-DAY RUN ON JEOPARDY.With a 58-53 win against Rhode Island on Feb. 1, the Saint Louis University men’s basketball team finally snapped its streak of alternating wins and losses that reached 21 dating back to last season. The streak was a first in the history of the program. During the 1945-46 season, the Billikens alternately won and lost through their first 11 games of the year. Although records on similar feats are scarce, it may have been the longest win-loss streak ever in collegiate or professional sports. Swimming and diving coach Jim Halliburton reached a winning milestone with the Jan. 20 meet against Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. He moved past Dr. Richard Beeson as the program’s all-time winningest coach with the three victories at the IUPUI meet. Halliburton, now in his fifth year at the helm of SLU’s program, hit 104 career wins after that meet’s victories. During his swimming days, Halliburton was a member of the U.S. National Team from 1972-1982. He twice was ranked No. 1 in the world in the 100-meter butterfly. Two SLU freshmen on the men’s basketball team are making quite an impression on the Atlantic 10. Guard Tommie Liddell received the A-10’s Rookie of the Week award for the fifth time when he was honored for the period ending Feb. 18. Liddell posted a near triple-double with 12 points and career highs of 13 rebounds, eight assists and four steals at Duquesne Feb. 15. He followed that with a game-high 12 rebounds against Temple Feb. 18. Guard Kevin Lisch received his third A-10 Rookie of the Week honor for the period ending Feb. 25. He averaged 17 points per game and 3 rebounds as the Billikens swept a pair of games. He scored 14 points against Rhode Island and followed with a 20-point effort at Charlotte. Saint Louis men’s and women’s soccer players are still collecting accolades for their performances in 2005. On the women’s side, senior Kelly Ferguson was named to the National Soccer Coaches’ Association of America (NSCAA) Scholar All-America second team. She also earned a spot on the Soccer Buzz All-Region third team. Juniors Maureen Hughes and Courtney Hulcer were on the Soccer Buzz All-Region second team, while Hulcer also was named to the NSCAA Scholar All-Region second team. For the men, junior John DiRaimondo was part of College Soccer News’ All-America second team, and Eric Sweetin earned a spot on the publication’s All-Freshman second team. Billiken Beat photo by Dave Preston VARSITY SPORT PROGRAMS REALIGNED SLU ADDS TRACK AND FIELD; MOVES GOLF TO CLUB STATUS AT&T MAKES MAJOR GIFT TO THE RESEARCH BUILDING The new AT&T Foundation, the philanthropic arm of AT&T Inc., is supporting the life-saving research at Saint Louis University Health Sciences Center by signing on as a “principal investor” in the University’s new Biomedical Research Building now under construction. The new AT&T Foundation is making a $1 million contribution to the project. To commemorate the gift, the eighth floor of the building will be named in honor of AT&T. One of SLU’s premier research groups, the Center for Vaccine Development under the direction of Robert Belshe, M.D., will be housed on this floor, as will a Biosafety Level Three Laboratory Suite. This area will enable researchers to safely work with indigenous and exotic agents that can cause serious or potentially lethal diseases, including a wide spectrum of viruses, bacteria and fungal agents. “We are pleased to be a principal investor in a project that will use the latest technology to help Saint Louis University bring advances in medicine to many people,” said Cynthia J. Brinkley, president of AT&T Missouri. University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J., said private support from institutions such as AT&T will help make possible significant medical advances by Saint Louis University researchers in the coming decades. “The generous commitment of the AT&T Foundation to the Saint Louis University research building will allow us to incorporate cutting-edge technologies to support the work of more than 200 biomedical researchers in Midtown St. Louis,” Biondi said. “We are proud to have AT&T as a partner in the construction of this world-class facility.” The Center for Vaccine Development at Saint Louis University is a multi-disciplinary research center designed to conduct basic and clinical research on new vaccines and biologics. It is one of just seven “Vaccine Treatment and Evaluation Units” in the United States that is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The results of these trials, including a recently announced avian flu vaccine study, may have a profound effect on public health in the United States and abroad. The $67 million Research Building is part of an $80.5 million project that also includes renovation of existing laboratory space, which will take place after the new building opens in fall 2007. Construction began in the spring of 2005 and is expected to take 24 to 27 months. For more information about the Research Building, visit researchbuilding.slu.edu on the World Wide Web. photo by Bill Barrett 6 UNIVERSITAS www.slu.edu 7 UNIVERSITAS SPRING 2006 After years of discussion and planning, construction of the Saint Louis University Arena is about to become a reality. At its meeting in February, the University’s board of trustees approved a plan to break ground on the Arena project no later than September of this year. In addition, the trustees approved an updated design plan for the Arena that will include a practice facility for basketball and volleyball and athletic department offices and support facilities. These updates, combined with new strength and conditioning and sports medicine facilities, will provide the athletic department with all of the resources necessary to move SLU athletics to the next level of Division I programs. “This is truly exciting news for all alumni and supporters of our SLU athletic programs,” said Director of Athletics Cheryl Levick. “The Arena and other facilities will greatly enhance our ability to recruit the best student-athletes and allow our sports programs to grow and prosper in the years ahead.” The new Arena will be built on University-owned property near the intersection of Compton Avenue and Interstate 64/Highway 40. The multipurpose Arena will be home to Billiken men’s and women’s basketball and host a variety of other events, including concerts, family shows, commencements and trade shows. Once open, the Arena is expected to bring hundreds of thousands of people to Midtown St. Louis each year. As University officials re-examined the plans for the Arena, the decision was made to include the practice facility and athletic offices in the design. The practice facility will be located on the Arena’s west side and will include two basketball courts and a practice/game court for the women’s volleyball team, with movable bleachers. The seating capacity of the Arena has been adjusted to just more than 10,000 seats. This will put the SLU Arena in the top four in seating capacity in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Arena will have 12 luxury suites, a Billiken Club and many other amenities. Creating an intimate, high-quality environment for patrons was a driving factor in the design process. Basketball fans will be much closer to the action than they are now at Savvis Center in downtown St. Louis. “This Arena is going to add to the quality of life on campus and in Midtown St. Louis,” said University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J. “I know our alumni have been waiting for this Arena to become a reality, and I’m thankful for the support of our trustees and donors in making this exciting project possible.” For Saint Louis University to bring this project to completion there is still a need to reach the $39 million fund-raising goal and reach it as soon as possible. “We know there were some supporters of this project who have been waiting for a more definitive starting date before financially supporting the project,” said Vice President for Development and University Relations Thomas W. Keefe. “Now that we know when Arena construction will begin and what it will mean to our campus, it’s important that we have a renewed financial commitment to this project.” To date, approximately $27 million has been raised for the project. Keefe is confident an additional $12 million can be raised in the next nine-12 months. Contributions to the Arena project can be made by calling Sandy Negri at (314) 977-2540 or by using the giving form on the Arena Web site, arena.slu.edu. Arena groundbreaking planned; funds still needed “This ARENA is going to add to the quality of life on campus and in Midtown St. Louis” – Lawrence Biondi, S.J. Swimmer and diver set records Saint Louis University freshman swimmer Elena Ramirez has been a part of setting six school records this season. She broke the school record in the 100 fly (55.82) and in the 200 fly (2:01.42) at the Atlantic 10 Conference Championships in Buffalo, N.Y. The swims earned her championships in both events. At the Show-Me Showdown at the University of Missouri, Ramirez recorded a school-record time in the 100 back (58.25). At the IUPUI Triangular, she claimed a school record in the 1,000 free (10:37.95). She also was part of two relay teams — the 200 and 400 medleys — that broke school records. The A-10 honored Ramirez’s efforts by naming her the swimming and diving Rookie of the Week for four weeks this winter. The A-10 also selected SLU diver Erin Lasinski as its swimming and diving Performer of the Week for two different weeks this winter. Lasinski broke the school record in the three-meter dive at the IUPUI Triangular with a score of 302.85, which was also the best score in the A-10 this season. More importantly, she qualified for the NCAA Zone Diving competition on Mar. 10-12 at the University of Missouri. Ramirez Lasinski Saint Louis University director of athletics Cheryl L. Levick announced Feb. 24 that the University will add the sports of men’s and women’s outdoor track and field, effective immediately, to complement its cross country programs. In addition, the men’s and women’s golf programs will move from varsity to club status. “We are excited about adding track and field to the list of sports Saint Louis University sponsors,” Levick said. “We are providing additional opportunities for more student-athletes and increasing diversity in the Billiken athletic family. The St. Louis area is home to arguably the greatest track and field star of all-time in Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and the city deserves a NCAA Division I track and field program.” The Billikens will take part in their first meet at the Southern Illinois Invitational on March 25, in Carbondale, Ill. Cross country head coach Mike Nelson also will coach the track and field teams. “The addition of track and field will increase opportunities for our student-athletes in racing, training and travel,” Nelson said. “This will make us more competitive on both the conference and regional levels. No longer will a recruit turn away from SLU because we do not have a track and field team. The metro St. Louis area is home to numerous elite high school and youth club programs, and we plan to build the foundation of our team with area talent.” Saint Louis becomes the only NCAA Division I track and field program in the St. Louis metro area. The addition of track and field will also boost the scholarship money awarded by the athletics department, and the program will add an assistant coach. The track and field program will also allow the staff to recruit runners from a middle-distance background and gives student-athletes additional opportunities for community service and leadership in the area. The golf programs will complete their 2006 spring schedule as planned. The men’s program dates back to 1961, while the women’s program is in its second year. Director of golf operations Ed Schwent recently resigned his position to become the full-time teaching pro at the Missouri Bluffs Golf Club. “This was an extremely difficult decision, but strategic analysis clearly demonstrates that this realignment better fits with our long-term athletic department goals within the Atlantic 10 Conference,” Levick said. “The formula for funding the golf programs did not work for our department. This change will allow us to reallocate resources to as many as six other varsity sports and enhance our opportunity for success within the A-10.” With the reclassification, Saint Louis will sponsor 16 NCAA Division I sports during the 2006-07 academic year. photos by Bill BarrettIn September 1525, two 19-year-olds found themselves assigned to the same room in the College of Sainte-Barbe at the University of Paris. Pierre Favre came from a family of sheep herders in the Savoy region of France. He was smart, studious, shy — what today we’d call a nerd. Francis Xavier came from Spanish aristocracy. He was outgoing, ambitious, the “Mr. Personality” type who enjoyed sports — in other words, a jock. Despite their differences the two roommates liked each other and became good friends. Their routines were typical for university students of that day, lectures and drills, all in Latin, the monotony punctuated by the occasional feast day. But their lives changed four years later, when Favre and Xavier were assigned another roommate, a 30-something Spanish nobleman who walked with a limp and had become very serious about religion. Rarely has a decision made by someone in residence life had such historic consequences. Ignatius Loyola was a man with a vision, but he knew he alone could not bring it to life. For years he had been trying to get colleagues to join him in his enterprise. First in Spain, then Paris, he found, then lost collaborators. In Favre and Xavier he finally found two companions who stayed with him. Four others also joined them. These “seven friends in the Lord,” as they called themselves, became the first Jesuits. April 2006 marks the 500th anniversary of the births of those two roommates, Francis Xavier and Pierre Favre, and this July the 450th anniversary of Ignatius’ death. Here at Saint Louis University and at Jesuit institutions around the world, presentations and events have been organized to mark these anniversaries with an entire Ignatian Year. That’s worth pausing to think about. Even a few years ago such anniversaries would have meant all the Jesuits getting together and celebrating with a nicer-than-usual dinner, uncorking a few bottles of better-than-usual wine. Maybe faculty, staff and students would be invited to a Mass on the anniversary days themselves. And that would be it. But the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, sees this year as a teaching opportunity. And Jesuits are marking these anniversaries by including their co-workers and students. The Ignatian Year is being seen as a family celebration, and all of us here, SLU grads included, are part of that Ignatian family. Ignatius would not be remembered today were it not for Favre, Xavier and the other companions who joined him. And their early enterprises, from housing the homeless to opening schools, would never have gotten off the ground without non-Jesuits supporting and working with them. Jesuit enterprises have always been, and still are, dependent upon a shared vision and a shared companionship. In other words, the Ignatian family is not just Jesuits, nor is it just Catholics. We have Jews, Muslims, members of Eastern religions and of no particular religious tradition who have espoused the Ignatian vision as faculty, staff, students, alumni and benefactors. Our marketing and communications office likes to boast 8 UNIVERSITAS www.slu.edu 9 UNIVERSITAS SPRING 2006 WHY THE EARLY JESUITS MATTER SO MUCH — ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR. – By Dr. Ronald Modras Fr. George Drance, S.J., created Three Companions of Jesus, commissioned by the Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesusthat Saint Louis University goes back to 1818, making it the first institution of higher learning west of the Mississippi. I prefer to point out that we have an educational tradition that goes back to 1548. That gives all of us at Jesuit schools a pedigree 88 years older than Harvard’s, 153 years older than Yale’s. Our Jesuit heritage reaches back to the Renaissance. What that means for us at SLU can be described by looking at the three men whose anniversaries we are celebrating this Ignatian Year. They symbolize the vision and values that make SLU what it is. Most Universitas readers are probably familiar with the main outline of Ignatius’ early life — a scandalous youth, a shattered leg, a conversion experience during convalescence that changed both him and history. I have always been impressed by his sheer willpower and determination. After his leg was reset a second time, some bone protruded. Ignatius insisted that the surgeons cut the flesh and excess bone away — in a time, of course, without anesthesia. There is no question, that Ignatius was one tough hombre. Last year, in a course I teach on several prominent Jesuits who exemplify Ignatian spirituality, I asked the class if they identified with any of the Jesuits we studied. I was surprised how many chose Ignatius. Personally, I wouldn’t choose to have lunch with the man, let alone identify with him. He was just too intense for me. So I was puzzled why these 20-year-olds would identify with Ignatius, until I thought about their situation. Many, if not most of them, are at a crossroads, unlike me but much like him. They are doing a lot of thinking about what to do with the rest of their lives. First at Loyola and then for 10 months in the town of Manresa, Ignatius had a series of profound religious experiences in which he came to believe that, like a school-teacher, God was instructing him how to help others experience God as well. He began jotting the lessons down in little book that became the Spiritual Exercises. Ignatius had become convinced that God is present and at work in all creation, in all our lives. Also, if God would speak to a sinner like him, God would speak to anyone. We just have to take time, significant time, to quiet ourselves and listen. By quieting ourselves and listening carefully, we can find God’s voice and will in our deepest desires. This was one of the main purposes of Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises, to help people quiet themselves and discern what to do with the rest of their lives. What Ignatius, Favre and Xavier discovered in their deepest desires and decided to do with the rest of their lives was to work ad majorem Dei gloriam, for the greater glory of God. They would do so by “helping souls,” a quaint way to say helping people. Helping people meant helping them get in touch with the God present in their lives but also looking at the world as it is, seeing what needs to be done and then doing it. The early Jesuits worked in hospitals and prisons and directed people in the spiritual exercises. When asked to open a school, Ignatius decided that education would be a great way to make a difference. The early Jesuits believed that they could help reform the Church and improve society by educating future leaders who shared their vision of making the world a better place. Obviously what this means for Jesuit education is helping students to think about the rest of their lives. And, in the phrase made famous by Father Pedro Arrupe, educating “men and women for others.” To avoid any hint of condescension, that slogan has been expanded to emphasize solidarity, “men and women for and with others.” If Hurricane Katrina has taught us anything, it is that there is no survival without human solidarity. It was under the leadership of Father Arrupe that the Society of Jesus re-articulated its mission in terms of “the service of faith and the promotion of justice.” All of its enterprises were to be characterized by this hallmark, including higher education. Ignatius Loyola is emblematic of a vision we are all called to share at SLU. It is why SLU describes itself as “a learning community in the Jesuit tradition, where knowledge touches lives, where faith inspires justice and service forms tomorrow’s leaders.” If Ignatius Loyola symbolizes a vision, Francis Xavier exemplifies the global outreach of that vision. When Xavier joined Ignatius, he didn’t realize that sharing that vision would take him to the other side of the world. Xavier was the first Jesuit missionary. And like other missionaries of the time, he thought he was doing a good thing by bringing not only Christian faith but also Western culture to the natives first in India and then in Indonesia. But when Xavier traveled to Japan, he discovered a culture quite different from his own. There he came to realize that his shabby black robe, symbolic of his vow of poverty, made an unfavorable impression on the Japanese. So he adapted to the culture and traded it for fine silk. Jesuit missionaries followed Xavier’s example, building houses that looked like pagodas, with a special room for the traditional tea ceremony. In China they exchanged Western culture for the robes, fans and lifestyle of Confucian scholars. In India they gave up not only Western culture but the meat and wine of a Western diet, so they could speak to the people of India with the same authority as Hindu holy men. The story of Jesuit missions rose out of an Ignatian spirituality that insists on profound respect for the individual person. And respect for a person requires learning to appreciate and respect that person’s culture. The term “global village” is a cliché but captures the world we live in and the tomorrow for which we are preparing our students. SLU is well positioned to do it because we belong to a global network of institutions of higher learning; not only 28 here in the United States but 168 faculties of higher learning worldwide. The Ignatian family reaches back to the Renaissance but also around the globe. The SLU community and its graduates are part of the world’s first multinational educational corporation. But unlike Coca-Cola, we are not for profit. Francis Xavier is emblematic of the efforts to raise a global consciousness at SLU. Our students study at SLU Madrid and make immersion trips to El Salvador. In 2004, University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J., saw to it that SLU higher administrators had a similar immersion trip experience to El Salvador. The University has established agreements for student exchange with Jesuit universities in Chile, Ecuador and Mexico. A Cross Cultural Center enjoys a prominent location in the Busch Student Center. And every spring during Atlas Week, faculty and students look at our global village and the forces that shape and threaten it. Pierre Favre is the least known of our three honorees. Yet he was the first companion to persevere with Ignatius. And he probably had a lot to do with Xavier overcoming his initial reluctance to get too close to Ignatius. Favre suffered from bouts of depression and anxiety about sin and guilt, commonly known as scruples. Ignatius had suffered the same malady for a time while at Manresa. He was able to recognize it in Favre and help him deal with it. Under Ignatius’ direction, Favre made the spiritual exercises and achieved some peace of mind. Favre was not a genius at administration like Ignatius or a missionary to exotic lands like Xavier. But he became expert at giving the spiritual exercises. In a memoir he wrote toward the end of his life, he thanked divine providence that Ignatius had entered into it, time and again using the words consolation and conversation. Consolation because that’s what he experienced through the spiritual exercises. And conversation because that’s what he did most when directing the spiritual exercises. It needs to be noted here that the essence of conversation is the art of listening, and that listening comes from the word to lean over to hear better. Favre was a good spiritual director because he was a good listener. If Ignatius Loyola symbolizes a vision and Francis Xavier the global outreach of that vision, Pierre Favre represents its spiritual dimension. One of the slogans that has come to encapsulate Ignatian values is educating the whole person. That means speaking to hearts as well as minds, honing students’ skills but also addressing their spirituality. Visit any bookstore and you will discover that spirituality is a hot topic these days. It’s because spirituality in its broadest sense has to do with — what fills your sails and drives you? What lifts your heart and animates you? What gets you up in the morning? What holds you together? And if you properly note that spirituality should have something to do with God, with the Holy Spirit, then let me cite my favorite quote from Martin Luther, that “your god is what you hang your heart on.” So what should we hang our hearts on? These are questions our students ask unconsciously if not explicitly. And we are not embarrassed to address them. In Jesuit colleges and universities like SLU, students learn about the Bible in theology classes but also about evolution in science classes. They meet theologians who embrace evolution and scientists who believe in God. They meet students of other faiths and no apparent faith. And if we do our job right, they learn that grace and faith and God’s presence have more to do with what is in your heart than with the ideas in your head. There is something else that Pierre Favre symbolizes: the fact that ordinary and even shy people can make a tremendous difference as part of a community; and that there is no end to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit. Favre doesn’t have churches named after him, but I wonder if we would remember Ignatius Loyola today if it were not for that shy, quiet college kid who was the first to share his vision, persevere as a companion and bring his roommate along with him. Favre was able to make a difference, but only as part of a community, as part of the Ignatian family. As members of the Ignatian family, this Ignatian Year is a good time to realize how blessed we are to be part of an enterprise and heritage as old as the Renaissance and as global as Coca-Cola. It’s one that makes a difference in the deepest dimensions of people’s lives. Though none of us — alumni, benefactors, administrators, faculty, staff, students — does it without the other. So here’s a happy anniversary to our forefathers in the family, Ignatius, Xavier and Pierre. Their lives are worthy of remembering with articles like this one. But uncorking a few bottles of better-than-usual wine isn’t a bad idea either. Dr. Ronald Modras is a professor of theological studies at Saint Louis University. His most recent book is Ignatian Humanism: A Dynamic Spirituality for the 21st Century (Loyola Press). 10 UNIVERSITAS www.slu.edu 11 UNIVERSITAS SPRING 200612 UNIVERSITAS www.slu.edu 13 UNIVERSITAS SPRING 2006 It does for faculty members at Saint Louis University School of Public Health, who research ways to encourage people to add physical activity to their already busy lives. The end result, they hope, is to ward off chronic diseases and prevent obesity. “It has to be a priority in your life,” says Dr. Christine Hoehner (Grad ’04), an assistant professor in the department of community health at the school. “It’s not going to be easy. You have to look for the opportunities to incorporate physical activity into your day.” Hoehner practices what she preaches. She takes her infant son, Joel, on long walks and grabs a run when her husband is with the baby. She joins the School of Public Health contingency for a noon-hour Pilates class on campus. She occasionally uses a pedometer, a tiny device worn on the belt, to ensure she logs the recommended 10,000 steps a day. Exercise is a huge part of Hoehner’s life when she’s working, too. Much of Hoehner’s research involves examining how the features of our communities — the availability of mass transit, the proximity of parks and recreation centers, even whether cities have sidewalks that aren’t broken — encourage physical activity. She’s convinced that if you build it, they will come. Cities can be designed to encourage people to walk to the store to buy a cup of coffee or bike to the library to return a book instead of driving. And if we move, we’ll be healthier. We all know exercise is the right thing to do. It’s good for our bodies and reduces the risk of illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, breast and colon cancer and osteoporosis. Exercise is also a mental cocktail. It improves your mood, gives you more energy, releases tension and stress, helps you sleep better and makes you feel great when you’re finished. Katie Duggan (Grad AHP, Pub Hlth ’94), manager of the Prevention Research Center at the School of Public Health, knows firsthand – By Nancy Solomon about the importance of exercise in keeping a sense of equilibrium. After her mother died suddenly of heart disease, Duggan was torn between shock and grief. Yet she still had to balance work and caring for her preschool-aged son and her father, who has Alzheimer’s disease. “The only thing that has kept me sane has been my very regular exercise routine,” she says. “I have a standing lunch date with myself and the gym every day, and I have stayed committed to this routine for eight years now. You’ll feel better, look better and be better able to cope with life stresses if you plan your exercise and exercise your plan.” Duggan’s experience as a woman having to juggle multiple responsibilities is fairly typical, says Dr. Amy Eyler, associate professor of community health at the School of Public Health and the author of a book about reasons why women don’t exercise. The most common reason both men and women give for not working out is lack of time. “But a man’s reason for not having time is different than a woman’s. Men seem to have the feeling that they’re the providers and have to put more time into work,” says Eyler, who wakes up before her two young children and husband to fit in a run. “For women, their dedication to family presents substantial time and logistical barriers to being physically active. They’re too busy taking care of others to take care of themselves.” While many members of the School of Public Health faculty enjoy working up a good sweat, they acknowledge that it’s tough to make exercise part of your life. An extra hour of sleep beckons. You need to meet with a prospective client instead of spinning at the health club. It’s too cold to go running. It’s too expensive to join a gym. Pretty soon you’re coming up with more excuses than crunches — and excuses won’t tone your abs. No more. On the following pages, Hoehner, Duggan and Eyler share the most common obstacles to exercise and offer their strategies to navigate the path to fitness. My life is a treadmill of activity, and I can’t find time to work out. » Look harder. Schedule exercise into your day as you would a meeting with your boss. Put it in your planner, and don’t let other things that come up take precedence. You don’t need hours of open time, just 30 minutes a day to improve your overall health. Watch one fewer TV show a day or shorten your hour-long lunch break by a half-hour. Wake up 30 to 45 minutes earlier to create new time in your day. Walk briskly out your door for 15 minutes, then turn around and come back for a total 30-minute workout that is simple and doesn’t involve driving to the gym. I’ve looked. I still can’t find time. » Look for tinier snippets of time. You can reap some overall health benefits exercising for 10 minutes three times a day, so those walks with your dog add up. Even better: Select high intensity activities to get more bang for your buck. Jogging and stair-stepping burn more calories than walking and pack more benefit in a shorter period of time. You don’t get it. My day is really packed. » Then look for ways to make activity a part of your day. Park farther from work so you’ll have a longer walk. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. When you need a loaf of bread, walk or bike to the supermarket instead of driving. Suggest a “walk-as-you talk” meeting with a colleague instead of a sit-down session. Hide the remote control for the TV so you have to get off the couch to change channels. Don’t make activity an “add on” to your frenzy. Try doing more on the weekends or days that aren’t so rushed. Make exercise a part of your daily routine, like brushing your teeth. SLU exercise gurus share their top tips to leap over workout roadblocks. Two little voices are arguing in your head. One dashes off a list of reasons you need to change into your workout gear and start exercising. The other lulls you into couch-potatohood with a litany of better things to do than work up a sweat. Sound familiar?14 UNIVERSITAS www.slu.edu 15 UNIVERSITAS SPRING 2006 Exercise will make me hungry, and I’ll eat more. » While you may have more of an appetite, you’ll be able to eat more of the things you love without feeling guilty and still maintain a healthy weight. Look at food and exercise as two facing seats on a teeter-totter. They will balance if the calories you eat (food) equals those you burn (physical activity). Eat more than you burn, and your weight goes up. I don’t like to exercise. » Maybe you don’t like the exercise programs you’ve already tried. Keep looking for something you might like — rock climbing, swimming, biking, golfing. Instead of aerobics, look at new class options — Pilates, Latin dance, spinning or kick-boxing. Walk and enjoy what you see around you. And best of all, think of how good you’ll feel when you’re finished. I have kids. » Instead of sitting and watching your children at sports practices or dance lessons, get up and walk. When they’re not involved in their own activities, invite them to exercise with you. Play tag in the backyard. Walk with them to school instead of driving. Kick a soccer ball around. In addition to spending quality time with the young and reckless, you’re setting a great example for your children, who, these days, are at increased risk of becoming overweight themselves. I would get a better workout if my kids weren’t around. » Exercise is a great way to grab some time for yourself. Let your family know that exercise is a priority and arrange for your spouse to watch the kids while you work out. Swap babysitting time with a friend, and exercise when you don’t have kid-patrol duty. Find a facility or health club that offers babysitting on site, or simply hire a babysitter. The cost is a worthwhile investment in your physical and mental health. I don’t have extra money for a health club membership. » Look for freebie fitness, such as walking, jogging, doing calisthenics or jumping rope. Sign up for your company’s softball team. Buy an exercise video or DVD. Better still, borrow from the library and check out new exercise videos often to keep your workout routine fresh. Exercising alone seems lonely. » Then exercise with a friend or family member. Set a time to exercise and allow the guilt of letting someone else down besides yourself motivate you to roll out of bed earlier than you normally would to work out. Or go to the gym at the same time every day. After a few days, you’ll likely notice a group of regulars who exercise at the same time you do. This group will ask you where you’ve been if you drop off the workout wagon. Check out Web sites where you can find a cyber-workout buddy or coach. Or sign up for a class to keep you company and accountable. I feel funny exercising around other people. » Exercise at home. Turn on the radio and dance. No one’s watching, and you’ll have a great workout. If you’re certain you’ll use a treadmill or stair-stepper for workouts instead of as a drying rack for hand-washables, consider purchasing one. An exercise ball, resistance bands and free weights are not as costly and can help you build muscle strength. And try to add in old-fashioned calisthenics — the kinds of exercises you did to warm up during gym class — such as pushups and crunches, for free and effective conditioning. I can’t tell if I’m making any progress. » Set a goal. Keep an exercise log on your nightstand and record in it every day what you’ve done to come closer to achieving your objective. This will help you track your progress and boost your motivation. If you miss a day or two, seeing the empty space in your log is likely to inspire you to return to your routine. Progress is measured in many ways. Think about how you feel when you walk up a few flights of stairs — are you as winded as before? Are you sleeping better? Weight loss doesn’t tell the whole story. » Consider indoor activities such as tackling a climbing wall, walking around the mall, swimming or using exercise machines. Whip out an exercise video like the new one you checked out from the library last week. Or change your outlook and embrace the cold. You can still jog outside if you dress for the weather. Put on enough layers of clothing to start out warm, and unwrap as your body warms up from the heat of exertion. Some of the new high-tech fabrics are a great investment because they really keep you warm. Tip: When it’s dark and cold, it helps to have a friend join in the fun. Baby, it’s cold outside. EXERCISE AT EVERY AGE AND STAGE Saint Louis University experts share their advice on the importance of exercise at all phases of life. Dr. Sarah Barlow, obesity specialist in the department of pediatrics, regularly walks the dog, plays on a basketball team and incorporates activity into family time: “Spend about an hour a day having active fun. Walk the dog. Leave a hula hoop out on the patio so kids can discover the activities they enjoy. Parents should allow — even insist — on playtime between the end of school and homework time. On the weekend, take the kids biking or bowling. This isn’t ‘exercise,’ it’s a time to connect with your kids, and it sets a good example for them as well.” Dr. Joan Lang, chairwoman of the department of psychiatry, has set up a home gym to make it easier to work out: “Don’t have intentions to exercise, make plans. Say, ‘I am going to do this now,’ spell out how you’re going to accomplish your goal and start arranging ways to make exercise part of your life. You tell yourself that you are going to reach your goal and here’s how. Start mapping it out in a way that will work for you.” Dr. Raul Artal, chairman of the department of obstetrics, gynecology and women’s health, gets up at 5 a.m. to squeeze in a workout: “Pregnancy is not a state of confinement. Women who do not have complications in their pregnancies should exercise. They have better pregnancies and outcomes than their sedentary counterparts. They also seem to cope better with labor because their bodies are used to hard work.” Dr. Margaret-Mary Wilson, associate professor of geriatrics, carries weights and brings her dog during her daily three-mile evening walks: “Exercise when you’re young to prevent hip fractures and osteoporosis when you’re old. We all knew we should exercise, but somewhere along the line, we either forgot or thought it wasn’t important. As we look to the future, we need to ask ourselves, ‘Do we want to be functional or frail?’” It’s been so many years since I exercised, and I’m so out of shape that I don’t know how to get started. » Your first step is to see your doctor to make sure you get the green light to start exercising. If you are good to go, consider walking, which is the easiest and most common form of exercise. All you need is your feet, a comfortable pair of shoes and a safe place to walk, such as a mall, multi-use trail or sidewalk. The bottom line: Excuses don’t cut it. Instead of being stopped by workout roadblocks, search for alternate routes to physical activity, faculty members say. It’s worth the effort. “You’ll receive a great return on the time you invest in exercising. With just 30 minutes a day, you’ll increase your longevity, work to prevent diseases, lower your risk of obesity and get a mental boost. Even Wall Street can’t beat a return like that,” Eyler says. I travel as part of my job. » Join a gym that has reciprocal privileges in other cities. Stay at a hotel that has an exercise room or pool. If you have a laptop, bring an exercise DVD and work out in your room. Walk to dinner instead of calling a cab. 16 UNIVERSITAS www.slu.edu 17 UNIVERSITAS SPRING 2006 The season both closed the first decade of the program’s existence and opened SLU’s tenure in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Billikens celebrated both with a bang. The team posted a school-record 16 wins, including a perfect 8-0-0 mark in league play, en route to claiming the University’s first A-10 regular-season and conference tournament titles and becoming the first SLU women’s team of any sport to play in an NCAA Tournament. “This was a special season for us in terms of honoring our history as well as continuing to lift the national exposure of a relatively young program,” head coach Tim Champion said. “This group of players set a number of goals at the beginning of the season, and they were committed to achieving them. In reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time, we were able to show what we have felt for the last couple of seasons, and that is that we are among the top women’s soccer programs in the country.” At a glance, the Billikens’ results are impressive. Playing 21 games, SLU could count its losses on one hand, with three of those defeats coming at the hands of top 10 teams. After storming through the A-10 regular season, the top-seeded Billikens completed the title sweep with a pair of 1-0 shutouts at the A-10 Tournament at Dayton to advance to the NCAA Tournament. The Billikens didn’t travel all the way to Santa Clara, Calif., just to play in the national tournament, either. They blanked No. 18 Stanford 2-0 in the first round. “This season was an amazing experience and a breakthrough for SLU women’s soccer,” senior Kelly Ferguson said. “I couldn’t have had a better ending to my college soccer career than to win the Atlantic 10 championship and make it to the NCAA Tournament. It was the end I had hoped for and dreamed about.” Ferguson was the undisputed leader of an experienced team that was coming off a Conference USA regular
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