See SXU's newly renovated Robert and Mary Rita Murphy Stump Library on Oct. 3

Grand re-opening includes guided tours and refreshments

Chicago (Sept. 29, 2011) Saint Xavier University invites the community to celebrate the grand re-opening of its newly renovated Robert and Mary Rita Murphy Stump Library from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Mon., Oct. 3 at its Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St.

This event is free and open to the public. Library staff and student workers will offer guided tours and refreshments will be served.

The Robert and Mary Rita Murphy Stump Library is dedicated to providing access to information resources, facilitating their use in the learning process, and reinforcing the University values of academic integrity and lifelong learning. For more information about The Robert and Mary Rita Murphy Stump Library, contact Library Director Mark Vargas at vargas@sxu.edu or (773) 298-3350.

-SXU-

Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
(773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu

Learn about the life of St. Therese of Lisieux at SXU's Theology South lecture series

Writer, artist and performer Marcia Whitney-Schenck will speak at 9:30 a.m. on Thurs., Oct. 6

Chicago (Sept. 29, 2011) Chicago-based writer, artist and performer Marcia Whitney-Schenck will speak at Saint Xavier University's next Theology South lecture about the life of St. Therese of Lisieux. The lecture, titled "The Words and Life of St. Therese of Lisieux: A Dramatic and Photographic Depiction of the Saint's Life and Works," is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Thurs., Oct. 6 in the Butler Reception Room, located in the Warde Academic Center of SXU's Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St. It costs $6 and is open to the public. Coffee will be served at 9 a.m. and a question-and-answer session will follow the lecture.

Called "the Little Flower," Therese Martin died at the age of 24 in 1897 from tuberculosis after having lived as a cloistered Carmelite nun for less than ten years. Her spiritual autobiography, "Story of a Soul," describes her "little way" to spiritual growth through theology anchored in the Word of God, nourished by love, and strengthened in the discovery of joy in everyday tasks. Whitney-Schenck dramatizes St. Therese's words, recalling her life through photographs taken by the Saint's older sister.

Whitney-Schenck is the former editor of "Christianity and the Arts" and author of "What God Gives: Prayers from Africa." Her current work focuses on "interpreting women of faith in a dynamic way for contemporary audiences.

For more information, please contact Donatta Yates at (708) 422-1635.

-SXU-

Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
(773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu

SXU and WGN-TV partner to honor outstanding Chicago-area teachers with Teacher of the Month program

First Teacher of the Month, Norma Gutierrez of Noble Street College Prep, will appear on WGN on Sept. 28



Chicago (Sept. 29, 2011) Saint Xavier University has partnered with WGN-TV Chicago to highlight the Teacher of the Month program, which honors educators who make a difference in their communities. Watch video of math teacher Norma Gutierrez of Noble Street College Prep, 1010 N. Noble, Chicago, being honored as the first Teacher of the Month. Gutierrez is scheduled to appear on WGN-TV during the midday news between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Thurs., Sept. 29. Teachers of the Month also will appear on the SXU and WGN-TV websites.

The program recognizes outstanding kindergarten, elementary, junior high, high school, vocational, and special education teachers in Chicagoland and northwest Indiana. One teacher will be selected each month through June 2012 for a total of 10 honorees. Teachers of the Month are chosen based on educational achievements in the classroom, community contributions and innovativeness of the program/techniques used by the teacher. Each Teacher of the Month is featured on the WGN-TV news and will receive a certificate of recognition. Additionally, each Teacher of the Month will receive a $1,000 donation from SXU to purchase school supplies for his or her classroom.

Read more information about the Teacher of the Month program here. Nominate a teacher on WGN-TV's website here.

-SXU-

Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
(773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu

SXU wraps up successful 2011 Homecoming Week celebration

Undefeated Cougars crush Trinity International University 49-14, more than 900 attend 11th Annual Cougar 5K Run/Walk

Chicago (Sept. 28, 2011) Alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends celebrated Saint Xavier University’s 2011 Homecoming with a week of events from Sept. 19 to Sept. 25 at its Chicago campus.

More than 900 people attended the 11th Annual Cougar 5K Run/Walk on Sept. 24. Ryan Hopper, of Cincinnati, Ohio, finished with the best men's time, 15:41, and Amanda Janosz, of Orland Park, had the top women's time of 20:05. More than 150 alumni, parents and friends joined President Christine Wiseman in the Alumni/Cougar Club Tailgate tent prior to the Homecoming football game, with a portion of the proceeds going toward student athletics. To top off a fantastic day, the No. 1 Cougar football team continued its undefeated season, scoring 35 first-half points and culminating in a 49-14 victory over Trinity International University.

SXU's Service Through Action Team (S.T.A.T.) gathered about 65 students and alumni on Sept. 21 to make more than 325 lunches for area homeless shelters, such as Port Ministries, Oak Lawn PADS and P.R.I.D.E. alternative schools. S.T.A.T. has made more than 3,000 lunches for shelters during the past two years.

SXU honored its best and brightest on Sept. 22. More than 100 guests gathered to honor five Academic Distinguished Alumni and six O'Brien Student Leadership award recipients, including Chicago Police Detective John L. Folino Jr., '02, '05, Joni Thompson, M.A. '92, Anthony Denovellis, MBA '06, Darcie Brazel RN, MSN '83, '91 and Carol A. Keene, Ph.D. '61. SXU's National Alumni Association also honored three accomplished alumni at an awards luncheon on Sept. 25 – Illinois State Police Director Hiram Grau, MBA '03, John Naisbitt '91 and Laura LeCompte '06.

National Alumni Association members hosted a reunion party at Gilhooley's Grande Saloon on Sept. 23. Guests enjoyed visiting with fellow alumni and listening to the band "Happy Hour," whose lead singer SXU alumna Lily Djurakov is a proud 2010 SXU alumna. A portion of ticket prices supported SXU student scholarships.

The celebration culminated on Sept. 25, with more than 50 people attending an Alumni Mass in McDonough Chapel.

-SXU-

Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
(773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu

SXU Gallery to host the work of Chicago artist Ed McCullough

"Crossings" exhibit on display from Sept. 28 to Oct. 18

Chicago (Sept. 28, 2011) Saint Xavier University will unveil an exhibit featuring the work of Chicago artist Ed McCullough from Wed., Sept. 28 to Tues., Oct. 18. The exhibit, titled "Crossings," will consist of McCullough's recent pedestal and wall sculptures and will be on display in the SXU Gallery, located in the Warde Academic Center at the Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St. There will be a lecture by the artist and a reception in the SXU Gallery at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 28.

McCullough said his sculptures are composed of "arcs and circles and variants thereof." "They stake out boundaries and make connections with what is not there – the open spaces in and around the places people gather," McCullough said. "Almost all of my sculptures are meant to be public works of art. I want people to feel welcome to come inside them, to be a part of what's there, to lay claim to where they are standing or sitting."

McCullough grew up on the South Side of Chicago and has worked as a sculptor for most of his life. After serving in the U.S. Navy from 1955 to 1959, McCullough attended Illinois State University. He earned a bachelor's degree and a master of arts, both in art.

The SXU Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, please contact the Gallery at (773) 298-3081.

-SXU-

Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
(773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu

SXU and WGN-TV partner to honor outstanding Chicago-area teachers with Teacher of the Month program

First Teacher of the Month will appear on WGN on Sept. 27 and Sept. 28

Saint Xavier University has partnered with WGN-TV Chicago to highlight the Teacher of the Month program, which honors educators who make a difference in their communities.

The program recognizes outstanding kindergarten, elementary, junior high, high school, vocational, and special education teachers in Chicagoland and northwest Indiana. The first Teacher of the Month is scheduled to appear on WGN-TV during the 9 p.m. newscast on Tues., Sept. 27 and the midday news between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Wed., Sept. 28. The Teacher of the Month also will appear on the SXU and WGN-TV websites.

One teacher will be selected each month through June 2012 for a total of 10 honorees. Teachers of the Month are chosen based on educational achievements in the classroom, community contributions and innovativeness of the program/techniques used by the teacher. Each Teacher of the Month is featured on the WGN-TV news and will receive a certificate of recognition. Additionally, each Teacher of the Month will receive a $1,000 donation from SXU to purchase school supplies for his or her classroom.

Read more information about the Teacher of the Month program here. Nominate a teacher on WGN-TV's website here.

Video Alert - Prof. William Kresse discusses property tax exemptions on CBS 2 Chicago

Saint Xavier University Prof. William Kresse discusses property tax exemptions on CBS 2 Chicago on Sept. 14.

Kresse is an associate professor at the Graham School of Management and director of the Saint Xavier University Center for the Study of Fraud and Corruption.

SXU announces new Board of Trustees members

Maryanne Stevens, RSM, Ph.D., John Simmons, CFA, Hope L. Flack, J.D., and Alexandra Moran

Chicago (Sept. 21, 2011) Saint Xavier University’s Board of Trustees is pleased to announce it has elected four new members to three-year terms: Maryanne Stevens, RSM, Ph.D., John Simmons, CFA, Hope L. Flack, J.D., and Alexandra Moran.

Stevens, of Omaha, Neb., has served as president of College of Saint Mary since 1996 and serves on the board of the Greater Omaha Women’s Fund. She holds a Ph.D. in religion and education from Boston College, a master's degree in theology from Saint Louis University, and a bachelor's degree in math and sociology from College Misericordia.

Simmons, of Flossmoor, has been president of Nuveen HydePark Group, LLC since 2007 and has extensive for-profit and not-for-profit board experience. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and an MBA from Saint Xavier University. He previously played professional baseball for the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies.

Flack, of Chicago, has served as vice president – legal at Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P. since 1991. She holds a juris doctorate from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, a master’s degree in political science and a bachelor’s degree in English and political science from Saint Xavier University.

Moran, of Burns Harbor, Ind., has been associate manager and business financial advisor at Ameriprise Financial since 2008. She is president of the Dunes Equine Center of Purdue University Calumet Board of Trustees and serves on the Housing Opportunities for Women Board of Trustees. She also is an adjunct professor at Purdue University Calumet. She holds a master’s degree in social work from University of Illinois at Chicago and a bachelors of arts from Hope College.

-SXU-

Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
(773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu

SXU hosts "The Power of Image" photography exhibit through Wed., Oct. 5

Closing reception at 5 p.m. on Oct. 5

Chicago (Sept. 20, 2011) Saint Xavier University's Visual Arts Center will host a photography exhibit titled "The Power of Image" from now through Wed., Oct. 5. A closing reception will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 5.

The exhibit features the work of SXU students in Advanced Photography from 1981 to 2009. The photos represent the major themes taught by Prof. Monte Gerlach during the course, including portraiture, fashion, still life and conceptual images. Students worked individually and in teams with studio lighting, 4x5 film cameras and digital SLR cameras to create these striking photos. The prints in the show were selected from more than 1,000 images and many of the students featured are now working as photographers and art teachers.

The VAC is located at 10435 S. Spaulding Ave. Read more information about the VAC here.

-SXU-

Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
(773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu

SXU recognized as "Military Friendly School" on G.I. Jobs' 2012 list

List honors top 20 percent of higher ed institutions doing the most to embrace America's service members

Chicago (Sept. 20, 2011) G.I. Jobs, a national military news, analysis and opinion magazine, recently named Saint Xavier University to its "2012 list of Military Friendly Schools" in a nation-wide publicity campaign. The list honors the top 20 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to embrace America's service members and veterans as students.

Schools on the list range from state universities and private colleges to community colleges and trade schools. All the institutions on the list have a shared priority of recruiting students with military experience. The list was compiled through extensive research during which G.I. Jobs polled more than 8,000 schools nationwide.

“The Military Friendly Schools list is the go-to resource for prospective student veterans searching for schools that provide the greatest opportunity and overall experience," said Executive Director for the Student Veterans of America Michael Dakduk. "Nothing is more compelling than actual feedback from current student veterans."

"Military veterans are warmly welcomed to Saint Xavier University," said President Christine M. Wiseman, J.D., whose own father was a Navy veteran of the D-Day Invasion at Omaha Beach. "We are a proud participant in the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program. I encourage military people in transition who are considering college to learn more about the program and about the many other ways in which SXU extends a friendly hand to our nation's military veterans."

A full story and detailed list of Military Friendly Schools will be highlighted in the annual Guide to Military Friendly Schools and on a poster, both of which will be distributed to hundreds of thousands of active and former military personnel in early October. The newly redesigned Military Friendly Schools website assists military veterans in choosing schools that best meet their personal educational needs.


-SXU-

Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
(773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu

Celebrate SXU's 2011 Homecoming at 11th Annual Cougar 5K Run/Walk

Event begins at 9 a.m. on Sat., Sept. 24 at Chicago campus

Chicago (Sept. 16, 2011) Celebrate Saint Xavier University’s 2011 Homecoming weekend with the 11th annual Cougar 5K Run/Walk at 9 a.m. on Sat., Sept. 24 at the Chicago campus’ Shannon Center, 3700 W. 103rd St.

The race begins and ends at SXU’s Chicago campus and travels through Evergreen Park. Individual registration fees are $25 for runners/walkers and $20 for SXU students. Day-of-race registration costs $30 for the general public and $25 for SXU students. Register online here or visit www.sxu.edu keyword: Cougar 5K

All race participants will receive a long-sleeved T-shirt. Complimentary refreshments, including bagels, muffins, fruit, coffee and water, will be provided for all participants. Vendors will give away products and services such as free pizza, cookies, massages, blood pressure screening and stretching. Kid’s activities include an inflatable bouncing house and face painting.

More than 1,000 participants are expected at this year’s Cougar 5K, which kicks off a day of homecoming festivities, said Shannon Center Facility Manager and Race Director Jennifer Kjos Quinlan. All participants will receive a free ticket to the homecoming football game at 6 p.m. at SXU’s Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field and free tickets will be handed out until 11 a.m. at the Gear Check located in the Shannon Center.

Cougar 5K sponsors include Gallagher Investment Services, The Beverly Review, Jimmy Johns, Greenwood Chiropractic, Aquafina, Gilhooley’s Grande Saloon, Mid American Group, Michelob Ultra, Core Fitness and Physical Therapy, The Village of Evergreen Park, Go Promotions, Accelerated Rehab, Running for Kicks, Pizza Man, Advanced Eyecare Professionals and McDonalds.

For more information about the Cougar 5K, please visit www.sxu.edu, keyword: Cougar 5K or call the race hotline at (773) 298-3592.

-SXU-

Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
(773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu

CME Group Executive Chairman the Hon. Terrence A. Duffy to Speak at SXU on Sept. 27

Former presidential adviser and Southside native to discuss business ethics

Chicago (Sept. 16, 2011) CME Group executive chairman and former presidential adviser Terry Duffy will speak about business ethics on Tues., Sept. 27 as part of Saint Xavier University's Squeaky Weal lecture series.

Duffy will deliver his lecture, titled "The Importance of Ethics in Business" at 6:30 p.m. in the Butler Reception Room, located in the Warde Academic Center at SXU's Chicago campus at 3700 W. 103rd St. He also will meet with SXU students for a discussion and question-and-answer session before the lecture.

Duffy, who hails from Mt. Greenwood, has been executive chairman of CME Group since July 2007. He has served as executive chairman of CME and CME Holdings since October, 2006 and previously served as chairman of the board since April, 2002. President George W. Bush appointed Duffy to serve on a National Saver Summit on Retirement Savings in 2002 and to serve as a member of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board in 2003.

Duffy serves on SXU's board of trustees, World Business Chicago's board of directors and the American Ireland Fund's Chicago regional advisory board. He is co-chair of the Mayo Clinic Greater Chicago Leadership Council, vice chairman of the CME Group Foundation and chairman of the NYMEX Foundation.

This lecture is part of the annual Squeaky Weal Lecture Series, which aims to provide thoughtful discussion of public issues with a focus on their ethical dimensions and their impact on the common good. It is sponsored by SXU’s Center for Religion and Public Discourse. For more information, contact Kathy Mareska at mareska@sxu.edu.

-SXU-

Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
(773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu

Elected officials meet with local business leaders at SXU's Sixth Annual "Breakfast With Your Legislators"

Attendees included State Sen. Edward Maloney, State Rep. Kelly Burke and Cook County Commissioner John Daley

Chicago (Sept. 16, 2011) Elected officials from the southern Chicago area answered questions from local business leaders about everything from ComEd rate increases to gaming in Chicago at the sixth annual "Breakfast With Your Legislators" event. The Beverly Area Planning Association and the Blue Island, Evergreen Park and Oak Lawn Chambers of Commerce presented the event and AT & T sponsored it. Saint Xavier University hosted the event at its Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St.

Participants of the panel discussion included: State Sen. Edward Maloney (D-18th), State Rep. Kelly Burke (D-36th), State Rep. Bill Cunningham (D-35th), Cook County Commissioner John Daley (D-11th), and Chicago Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th).

State Sen. Edward Maloney (D-18th) on voting against the recent ComEd Smart Grid legislation: "There's obviously a need for upgrading the service … but I just felt that ComEd needs more skin in the game. ComEd and Ameren, the two … that are looking for this automatic rate increase are currently making a profit. My sense is why wouldn’t you take part of that profit and begin your investment here to show consumers you’re serious about upgrading the system. … The timing is not good on this, we all know what happened during the storms this summer."

State Rep. Bill Cunningham (D-35th) on education funding: "The budget is the overarching problem in the state budget and almost everything is related to it. Funding for education issues … has been a problem in the state government. I think we rely too much on local governments to fund education through property taxes. That’s something that would require major change in Springfield and I think it’s something we need to work on."

State Rep. Kelly Burke (D-36th) on her top priority for her legislative district: “What businesses have said repeatedly is they want stability and they want to be able to plan. With uncertainty in the state budget and with the tax climate, they haven’t been able to. My priority is to help move along the budget process that will provide that stability and I think we’re moving in that direction in the state.”

Cook County Commissioner John Daley (D-11th) on gaming in Chicagoland: "I strongly support opening a casino in the city and in the suburbs. Revenues are dying… just go out to the Horseshoe Casino or Four Winds in New Buffalo… and you see license plates from Illinois. We are losing money and this money, if used correctly, could be going toward schools."

Chicago Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th) on longer school days in Chicago: To just add 90 minutes to the day doesn’t solve the problem. There needs to be more math, more reading, more science. I think we also need to talk about overcrowding and improvements to our schools. … I also believe that if we’re going to ask teachers to spend additional time in the classroom, they need to be fairly compensated and in my opinion right now, they’re not.


-SXU-

Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
(773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu

SXU continues to rank among top 25 percent in U.S. News & World Report’s 2012 “Best Colleges in the Midwest”

SXU’s sixth consecutive year in top 25 percent

Chicago (Sept. 15, 2011) For the sixth consecutive year, Saint Xavier University continues to rank among the top 25 percent of all Midwest master’s comprehensive universities, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2012 rankings for “Best Colleges in the Midwest.”

SXU is ranked 37th of 146 regional colleges, and it is ranked fifth in Illinois. Rankings are based on a set of metrics that are said to reflect a postsecondary institution’s quality.

SXU also had an increase in freshmen who graduated in the top 25 percent of their high school class. Additionally, SXU remains in seventh position for Campus Ethnic Diversity.

“Saint Xavier University continues to achieve high rankings both for its quality programs as well as its ethnic diversity,” said President Christine M. Wiseman, J.D. “Consistent with the rich heritage of our Sisters of Mercy sponsors, we are proud of our ranking and work hard to ensure that our quality programs are accessible to talented students, regardless of their economic backgrounds.”

-SXU-

Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
(773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu

SXU to celebrate 2011 Homecoming with week of events

Alumni come back to give back

Chicago (Sept. 14, 2011) Alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends are invited to Saint Xavier University’s 2011 Homecoming Week celebration beginning Wed., Sept. 21 at the Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St. For more information about homecoming, please contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at (773) 298-3316 or alumni@sxu.edu.

Wed., Sept. 21
Brown Bag Service Project – 6 p.m., SXU Diner Atrium
Alumni and students will once again come together in the spirit of Mercy to serve our community at the Service Through Action Team Brown Bag Project. All alumni and friends are invited to assist in making brown bag lunches for local shelters and organizations that serve individuals in great need.

Concert on the Quad – 7 p.m., Smith-Morris Quad Patio
SXU students and alumni are welcome to enjoy refreshments and a free concert on the patio!

Thurs., Sept. 22
2011 Academic Distinguished Alumni and Student Leadership Awards Ceremony – 6:30 p.m., Butler Reception Room
A special reception recognizing the achievements of SXU student leaders and the 2011 Academic Distinguished Alumni Awards recipients:
• The School of Education George K. McGuire Award – Joni Thompson, M.A. '92
• The Graham School of Management Distinguished Alumni Award – Anthony Denovellis MBA '06
• The School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award – Darcie Brazel RN, MSN '83, '91
• The College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award – Carol A. Keene, Ph.D. '61
• The School for Continuing and Professional Studies Distinguished Alumni Award – John L. Folino Jr., '02, '05

Fri., Sept. 23
2011 All-Alumni Reunion Celebration – 6:30 p.m., Gilhooley's Grande Saloon (3901 W. 103rd St.)
All Alumni and friends are welcome to celebrate with the reunion classes of '71, '76, '81, '86, '91, '96, '01 and '06. Alumni who attend can sign up for a chance to win $10,000 during halftime at the Homecoming football game (restrictions apply). A $20 donation includes food, soft drinks, 2 free drink tickets (cash bar) and live entertainment provided by "Happy Hour" featuring SXU alumna Lily Djurakov '1 (21 and over). A portion of your donation will be donated to support student scholarships.

Sat., Sept. 24
11th Annual Cougar 5k Run/Walk (Register Now) – 9 a.m., Shannon Athletic Center
Join alumni, students, parents and friends of SXU at the 11th Annual Cougar 5K. All participants will receive a SXU t-shirt, free refreshments and a ticket to the Homecoming football game upon request. The course starts and finishes on the SXU campus and runs through the heart of Evergreen Park. The Cougar 5K's proud alumni sponsor is Marty Gallagher '01 of Gallagher Investments. To register, click here, visit www.sxu.edu, keyword: cougar 5k, or call (773) 298-3952.

Alumni Games – times and locations vary
Come home to SXU and relive those glory days of playing ball at SXU Join in the alumni games with former teammates or just come out for the fun. For game times and locations, contact the Department of Athletics at (773) 298-3101.

Men's soccer game: SXU vs. University of Saint Francis – 1:30 p.m., Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field

Alumni/Cougar Club Reception Tailgate Tent – 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field
SXU alumni, parents and members of the SXU Cougar Club are invited to a special pre-game celebration. A $20 donation includes food, beverages (21 and over) and live entertainment by local favorite Matt Ladd. A portion of your donation will be donated to support Cougar Athletics or Student Scholarships

Alumni/Student Video Game Truck – 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field
Alumni and students can test their video game prowess against a huge assortment of today's most popular video games. Admission for this event is FREE!

Homecoming Game: SXU vs. Trinity International University – 6 p.m., Bruce R. Deaton Memorial Field
Cheer the Cougars to victory over Trinity International University. Receive free tickets to the football game when you stop by the Alumni Hospitality Tent.

Half-time Alumni Field-Goal Kick Challenge
One lucky alumnus or alumna will be selected to take a shot at winning $10,000! (Restrictions apply. Contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations for more information.)

Sun., Sept. 25
Alumni Mass – 10 a.m., McDonough Chapel
All are invited to worship in honor of our departed alumni and friends, as well as those men and women in service to our country both here at home and abroad.

2011 National Alumni Association Awards Ceremony and Brunch – 11:30 a.m., Butler Reception Room
Join us in honoring remarkable Saint Xavier graduates at the presentation of the annual National Alumni Association Awards
• Distinguished Alumni Award, Hiram Grau, MBA '03 – This award was established in 1986 to recognize alumni for their personal and professional achievements that reflect the ideals of Saint Xavier University. Recipients of the award exhibit the values of service, leadership, lifelong learning and spirituality.
• Sister Dorothy Marie Peschon '19 Award, John Naisbitt '91 – Named in honor of one of the first graduates of Saint Xavier College for Women, recipients of this award embody the values of the Sisters of Mercy and serve as exemplary volunteers and supporters of the University's endeavors.
• Rita A. Ford '98, Faith in the Future Award, Laura LeCompte '06 – This award is presented to promising alumni who graduated in the past ten years and achieved personal, professional and social accomplishments that reflect the ideals of Saint Xavier University.


-SXU-

Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
(773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu

SXU launches new pre-law program with Constitution Day celebration

Prof. Robert Shapiro will discuss the nature of constitutional rights, talk to students about law school

Chicago (Sept. 13, 2011) Saint Xavier University will celebrate Constitution Day and launch its new pre-law program with a lecture about the Founding Fathers and American constitutional rights, as well as a discussion about law as a profession. The event, which is free and open to the public, is scheduled from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tues., Sept. 20 in the Butler Reception Room, located in the Warde Academic Center at SXU's Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St.

SXU Department of Philosophy Adjunct Professor Robert Shapiro will focus on the nature of "constitutional rights" in his lecture “Thinking about the Constitution: Constitutional Rights and Constitutional Interpretation." He will address the question of why the American Founders, despite their obvious devotion to "rights," wrote a document during the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia with so few direct references to the concept. While exploring what the Founders may have understood by a constitutional right, he offers observations about the Founders' inheritance from Hobbes, Locke and Blackstone and their understanding of the "more perfect Union" they were creating in the Constitution. He also investigates whether it makes sense to talk about the Founders' "original intent" and whether any such notion has relevance for contemporary constitutional interpretation. After his lecture, Shapiro will talk with students about law school and the profession of law.

Shapiro has taught philosophy at SXU for five years, is a senior litigation partner at the Chicago firm of Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg, LLP, and has been a commercial trial lawyer for more than 30 years. He is the author of many legal articles and has written a quarterly column for the American Bar Association's Litigation Journal for the last twelve years.

For more information about SXU's pre-law program, please contact Department of Philosophy Associate Professor and program coordinator Nan-Nan Lee at prelaw@sxu.edu, or visit sxu.edu, keyword pre-law.

-SXU-

Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
(773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu

Network with Chicagoland elected officials at SXU's Sixth Annual "Breakfast With Your Legislators" on Sept. 15

Scheduled attendees include: State Sen. Edward Maloney, State Rep. Kelly Burke and Cook County Commissioner John Daley

Chicago (Sept. 7, 2011)Local business professionals are invited to meet and mingle with Chicagoland elected officials at the Sixth Annual "Breakfast With Your Legislators" event on Thurs., Sept. 15 at Saint Xavier University's Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St.

Elected officials scheduled to attend include State Sen. Edward Maloney (D-18th), State Rep. Kelly Burke (D-36th), State Rep. Bill Cunningham (D-35th), Cook County Commissioner John Daley (D-11th), Cook County Commissioner Joan Murphy (D-6th), Cook County Commissioner Liz Gorman (R-17th) and Chicago Ald. Matt O'Shea (19th).

Registration and networking begin at 7:30 a.m. in the Butler Reception Room located in the Warde Academic Center, followed by breakfast and the program at 8 a.m.

General admission for the event, which includes breakfast, is $30 per person and $20 for members of the following organizations: Beverly Area Planning Association, Blue Island Chamber of Commerce, Evergreen Park Chamber of Commerce and Oak Law Chamber of Commerce.

This event is expected to sell out. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required by Sept. 12. Please register online at BAPA’s website or by phone at (773) 233-3100.

“Breakfast with your Legislators” is sponsored by AT&T.

-SXU-

Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
(773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu

SXU hosts two-part lecture about war, religion and ethics

Catholic Colloquium series lecture "The Ethics of War: Two Perspectives" is on Sept. 7 and 8

The Rev. Robert Barry, O.P., Ph.D., (Left) and Thomas Cordaro.

Chicago (Sept. 1, 2011) Saint Xavier University will host "The Ethics of War: Two Perspectives" in September, a two-part lecture about war, violence, religion and ethics with Thomas Cordaro and the Rev. Robert Barry, O.P., Ph.D., as part of its Catholic Colloquium series.


Cordaro, a pastoral minister and peace activist, will deliver the first part of the series, titled "Redemptive Violence or Redemptive Suffering: The Role of Religion in the Quest for Peace," on Wed., Sept. 7. Barry, a military chaplain and SXU's campus minister, will deliver the second lecture, titled "Justice and the Use of Force in the Catholic Tradition," on Thurs., Sept. 8. Both lectures begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Butler Reception Room, located in the Warde Academic Center at SXU's Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St.

Cordaro, who ministers at St. Margaret Mary parish in Naperville, has long been active with Pax Christi, a national Catholic peace and justice organization, and with Crossroads Antiracism Organizing and Training, an organization working to dismantle systemic racism and build multicultural diversity. A prolific author, Cordaro’s latest book, Be Not Afraid: An Alternative to the War on Terror, won a best book award from the Catholic Press Association.

Barry is a campus minister and faculty member at SXU, as well as a member of the Illinois Air National Guard and military chaplain who has spent the last seven summers ministering to injured soldiers evacuated to Germany from Iraq and Afghanistan. Both his chaplaincy experiences and his studies in theology and political science inform his perspective on the issues of ethics and warfare.

The Catholic Colloquium series is sponsored by the Office for University Mission and Heritage. It honors the responsibilities of a Catholic university to its many constituents and illustrates how Catholic universities are resources for examining contemporary civic and social questions.

For additional information, please contact the Office for University Mission and Heritage at (773) 298-3981 or mareska@sxu.edu.


-SXU-

Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
(773) 298-3937 or kthomas@sxu.edu

FOX Chicago News covers B-Ray Day fundraiser for Billy Rehfeld at SXU on Sept. 1

FOX Chicago News reporter Patrick Elwood interviews Billy Rehfeld, a Saint Rita High School senior, upon his first visit back to school after a serious car accident that claimed his lower left leg and seriously injured his entire body. The segment aired on Sept. 1, the same day as the "Blessings for Billy" benefit at Gilhooley's Grande Saloon. A website for donations for the Rehfeld family is available here.

Billy is the second oldest of four sons of Peggy (Margaret) Rehfeld from Saint Xavier University's Office of Records & Advising. Billy is making progress, but his biggest hurdles are pain management, the demands of the initial stages of physical therapy, controlling blood clot formations and maintaining faith and focus. All of your well wishes and prayers have strengthened the Rehfeld family during this difficult time.

Sept. 1 was officially designated "B-Ray" T-Shirt Day by SXU President Christine Wiseman to show SXU's support of Billy and the entire Rehfeld family as he fights to move forward toward recovery.