Thursday, April 26, 2012

SXU Mock Trial team participates in its first American Mock Trial Association regional tournament

SXU to offer new Mock Trial course as part of Pre-Law Program for Fall 2012

Chicago (April 26, 2012) Saint Xavier University's first Mock Trial Team recently competed in its inaugural regional tournament through the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA), as part of the University's launch of its new Pre-Law program. SXU will offer a three-credit hour course, POLSC 260: Mock Trial I, during the Fall, 2012 semester.

“This pre-law initiative is unlike anything SXU has ever done before,” said SXU President Christine Wiseman, J.D. “We are so appreciative of our volunteer coaches and judges who took time out of their busy schedules to help SXU students hone their skills in the courtroom.”

The team held a dress rehearsal dress rehearsal for a murder/DUI case in early February on campus to prepare for the tournament. The mock trial gave students on the team an opportunity to play the role of defense attorney and prosecutor as well as witnesses in the trial. All the students did an excellent job representing SXU at this year's regional tournament, and the competition's judges were shocked to learn this was SXU's first team competition! The students on the team also received compliments on how well they conducted themselves both in and out of the courtroom.

More than 190 universities throughout the country take part in the American Mock Trial Association’s tournaments. Patrick J. Enright, an attorney at O’Rourke, Hogan, Fowler & Dwyer, and Dan Maloney, Assistant State's Attorney for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, are the team's coaches. Three judges graciously agreed to volunteer their time during the mock trial on campus: The Hon. Brian Flaherty, a felony courtroom judge in the Cook County Circuit Court's Sixth Municipal District. He is a former Assistant Public Defender for the Cook County Public Defender's Office and a former attorney for the Cook County Sheriff's Department; The Hon. Kathy Panozzo, a misdemeanor criminal courtroom judge in the Cook County Circuit Court's Sixth Municipal District and a former Cook County Assistant State's Attorney in the Gang Crimes Unit; and Federal Bureau of Investigation Agent Mike Brown.

“These mock trials are great opportunities for young students to learn the federal rules of evidence, how to submit evidence as well as to understand the various roles and responsibilities of trial lawyers,” Enright said. “It’s great to see the dedication of the SXU students."

For more information, please contact Pre-Law Program Director Prof. Nan-Nan Lee at prelaw@sxu.edu or visit www.sxu.edu, keyword: pre-law.

-SXU-

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Media Contact:
Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Local SXU School of Education students win scholarships

~Congratulations to Leah Coleman (Evergreen Park), Colleen Farrell (Orland Park), Deena Rostom (Oak Lawn), Dominique Martin (Chicago Heights), Brian Garland (New Lenox), Abbigail Davidson (Chicago), and Sabrina Marie Wadhams (Joliet)~

Chicago (April 24, 2012) Saint Xavier University's School of Education is pleased to announce the winners of the Binder, Davis, Gallagher, Leake, Malin, and McGuire Scholarships.

The Dr. Dorothy Binder Endowed Graduate Scholarship is funded by donations in honor of the late Dr. Binder. It was awarded to Leah Coleman of Evergreen Park, of the graduate Educational Administration program. The scholarship recognizes Ms. Coleman’s commitment to excellence, hospitality, compassion, and service to others – qualities that Dr. Binder personified in her life.

The Dorothy Ritter Davis Scholarship is funded by the estate of alumna Dorothy Davis. It was awarded to Colleen Farrell of Orland Park in the graduate Secondary Ed/English program. The scholarship recognizes Ms. Farrell for academic excellence, compassion, service to her community, and appreciation of diversity – core values celebrated by the Davis Scholarship.

The Elaine Gallagher ScholarshipDeena Rostom of Oak Lawn in the undergraduate Secondary Ed/Biology program. The scholarship recognizes Ms. Rostom’s enthusiasm for teaching Science, love of learning, and demonstration of service – qualities that Ms. Gallagher exemplified in her life.

The Dr. Lloyd Leake Scholarship is funded by the family and friends of the late Dr. Leake. It was awarded to Dominique Martin of Chicago Heights in the undergraduate Elementary Education program. The scholarship recognizes Ms. Martin’s commitment to excellence, service, and integrity – all qualities that Dr. Leake exhibited throughout his life.

The Julius and Catherine Heerey Malin Scholarship is funded from the estate of Helen Heerey, in honor of Catherine and the late Julius Malin. It was awarded to Brian Garland of New Lenox in the graduate Multicategorical Special Education program. The scholarship recognizes Mr. Garland’s exemplification of the qualities celebrated in the Malin Scholarship---excellence, service, and integrity.

The Eunice and George McGuire Scholarships are funded from the estate of Dr. and Mrs. McGuire. The 2012 undergraduate tuition grant was awarded to Abbigail Davidson of Chicago2012 graduate tuition grant was awarded to Sabrina Marie Wadhams of Joliet in the Multicategorical Special Education program. The scholarships recognize Ms. Davidson’s and Ms. Wadhams’ demonstrations of excellence, respect, and hospitality which are the values celebrated by the McGuire Scholarship.

For more information about Saint Xavier University's School of Education, please contact (773) 298-3200 or visit www.sxu.edu, keyword: education.

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

Founder of Mercy Beyond Borders and first male minority nursing dean in the U.S. to speak at SXU's 2012 Spring Commencement

Sr. Marilyn Lacey, RSM, and Courtney H. Lyder to receive honorary degrees at May 13 ceremony

Chicago (April 24, 2012) Founder and executive director of Mercy Beyond Borders Sr. Marilyn Lacey, RSM, and UCLA School of Nursing, Medicine and Public Health Dean Courtney H. Lyder, N.D., G.N.P., F.A.A.N., will speak at Saint Xavier University's 2012 Spring Commencement on Sun., May 13.

Lacey will speak at the undergraduate ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m. Lyder will speak at the graduate ceremony, which begins at 3 p.m. Both ceremonies will be held in the Shannon Center Main Arena at SXU's Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St. Lacey and Lyder both will receive honorary degrees. A reception will follow each ceremony in the SXU Diner in the Warde Academic Center.

Sr. Lacey is a Sister of Mercy who has since 1980 worked with refugees, migrants, and other displaced persons overseas and in domestic resettlement. After 21 years of working for Catholic Charities, Sr. Lacey started Mercy Beyond Borders in 2008. Its mission is to partner with displaced women and children overseas in ways that help them move up from extreme poverty. Sr. Lacey has spent time in some of the most war-ravaged places on Earth, including the Lao-Thai border, Sudanese and Somali camps in Kenya, and with internally displaced persons in the Eastern Equatoria region of Sudan. She also has worked extensively with the Lost Boys of Sudan, helping them to resettle safely in the United States.

Sr. Lacey was honored by the Dalai Lama in 2001 as an “Unsung Hero of Compassion” for her life of service with refugees. She is a frequent presenter to groups and schools throughout the U.S on refugee and migration issues. She holds a master's degree in social work from the University of California Berkeley.

Lyder is dean and professor of the UCLA School of Nursing, Medicine and Public Health; executive director of the UCLA Patient Safety Institute; and assistant director of the UCLA Health System. He is the first African-American to serve as a dean at UCLA and is the first male minority nursing dean in the United States. Lyder also was an assistant professor of nursing at Saint Xavier University from 1991 to 1994.

Lyder is an international expert in gerontology. His clinical research has focused on chronic care issues affecting older adults. More specifically, he has focused his attention on pressure ulcer prevention (bed sores), identifying erythema in darkly pigmented skin, wound healing, quality improvement in skilled nursing facilities and elder patient safety. Lyder has more than 200 publications and has been awarded more than $22 million in research and training grants. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the New York Academy of Medicine. In 2011, he was appointed by Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius to the National Advisory Council for Nursing Research.

For more information about SXU's 2012 Spring Commencement, please visit www.sxu.edu, keyword: commencement or contact (773) 298-3867 or commencement@sxu.edu.

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Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
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Tuesday, April 17, 2012

SXU presents Mozart’s beloved opera “The Magic Flute”

~Local teachers are invited to bring students to a special performance on April 26~

Chicago (April 17, 2012) Saint Xavier University’s Opera Workshop will perform Mozart's “The Magic Flute," one of the world's most beloved and well-known operas, this month at the University's Chicago campus. Public performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Fri., April 27 and 7:30 p.m. on Sat., April 28. Local teachers are invited to bring students to a special performance at 3 p.m. on Thurs., April 26, which is also open to senior citizens. All three shows will take place in McGuire Hall, located in the Warde Academic Center, 3700 W. 103rd St.

The opera will be performed in English with spoken dialogue, and all performances will run approximately two hours and 15 minutes with one intermission. The April 27 and April 28 shows are open to the public. General admission tickets for these performances cost $8, and cost $5 for visiting students and senior citizens with ID. Admission for the April 26 performance costs $3. Free parking will be available on campus for all performances.

This spectacular and complex fairy tale weaves a story of good versus evil. The handsome prince Tamino (Michael Murdie) falls in love after seeing a portrait of Pamina (Kojelyte Johnson), the daughter of the Queen of the Night (Michelle Gliottoni Rodriquez). The Queen claims Pamina has been enslaved by Sarastro (Michael Swisher), and charges Tamino with rescuing her. Accompanied by the bird catcher Papageno (Vincent Dore), Tamino departs on a magical adventure.

For more information or to make reservations to bring a group of students to the April 26 performance, please contact Annette Adamus in the Music Department at (773) 298-3421 or adamus@sxu.edu.

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Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

SXU presents networking event focusing on the changing role of teachers

"Alumni X-Change: The Changing Role of the Modern Teacher" is on Thurs., April 19

Chicago (April 10, 2012) Saint Xavier University's Office of Alumni and Parent Relations, together with the School of Education, will present "Alumni X-Change: The Changing Role of the Modern Teacher" from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thurs., April 19 in the Fairfield Room at Palos Country Club, 13100 Southwest Highway, Orland Park. Admission is $25 per person and includes hors d'oeuvres and beverages. A cash bar also will be available.

An educator with more than 20 years of experience, David Hollander, '89, will address the changing role of the modern teacher and the importance of networking. Hollander, an eighth-grade social studies teacher at Kennedy Junior High School in Lisle, was awarded the Golden Apple in 2005 and received the Saint Xavier University George K. McGuire Award for excellence in teaching in 2007.

To register for this event, please visit www.sxu.edu, keyword: modern teacher. For more information, contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations at (773) 298-3316 or alumni@sxu.edu.

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Arianna Huffington and Mary Matalin to speak at SXU's next Voices and Visions lecture

Join national political commentators at 7 p.m. on Thurs., Nov. 1

Chicago (April 10, 2012) Famed political personalities Arianna Huffington and Mary Matalin will be the next speakers for Saint Xavier University's highly successful Voices and Visions Speaker Series. Huffington and Matalin will speak at 7 p.m. on Thurs., Nov. 1 in the Shannon Center, located at SXU's Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St.

Huffington and Matalin’s timely visit to campus will come five days prior to what may be one of the nation's most historic Presidential elections, providing Chicagoans with a unique opportunity to witness a moderated point/counterpoint discussion with two powerful perspectives.

Huffington is the president and editor-in-chief of the AOL Huffington Post Media Group, a nationally syndicated columnist, and the author of thirteen books. In May 2005, she launched The Huffington Post, a news and blog site that quickly became one of the most widely-read, linked to, and frequently-cited media brands on the Internet. In 2006 and 2011, she was named to the "Time 100," Time magazine's list of the world’s 100 most influential people. She also was named to: Fast Company’s "100 Most Creative People in Business"; Financial Times’ "50 People Who Shaped the Decade"; Newsweek’s "Top Ten Thought-Leaders of the Decade"; Forbes’ "Most Influential Women in the Media" and "The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women"; and Vanity Fair’s 2011 "Top 50 New Establishment List."

Matalin formerly served as assistant to President George W. Bush and counselor to Vice President Richard Cheney, and was the first White House official to hold that double title. She held senior positions in the George H. W. Bush 1988 campaign and was appointed chief of staff for the Republican National Council. Today, she can be seen weekly as a CNN political contributor on such shows as "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer" and "John King USA." In addition to her successful careers in politics, television and radio, Matalin also is an acclaimed author and serves as editor-at-large for Threshold Editions, a conservative publishing imprint.

The SXU Voices and Visions Speaker Series is sponsored by University Relations and in part by the Student Government Association. More details and ticket information will follow in May. For more information about the Voices and Visions Speaker Series, please visit www.sxu.edu, keyword: voices.

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Karla Thomas, Executive Director of Media Relations
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Monday, April 9, 2012

SXU's 2012 spring concert schedule

Chicago (April 9, 2012) Saint Xavier University's Department of Music will host a series of concerts during the spring 2012 semester. General admission is $6, and admission is $5 for senior citizens and visiting students. The concerts are free for all SXU faculty, staff, and students with a current ID. All concerts will be held at the Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St. For more information, contact Annette Adamus in the Department of Music at (773) 298-3421 or adamus@sxu.edu.

• Flute Choir presents "Springtime Jubilation," 7:30 p.m., Fri., April 13, McDonough Chapel – The Flute Choir will perform old-time favorites and new works with a springtime theme.

• University Chorale and University Orchestra present "In Celebration of Life and Love," 7:30 p.m., Sat., April 14, Rehearsal/Performance Space - The University Chorale and University Orchestra will present Handel's "Zadock the Priest," along with music by Dan Forest and Eric Whitacre's "Five Hebrew Love Songs."

• SXU Guitar Ensemble and Jazz Combo Spring Concert, 3 p.m., Sun., April 15, McGuire Hall - The SXU Guitar ensemble will perform works by Dionsio Aguado, Thomas Campian, Muzio Clementi, George Frideric Handel, and others. The SXU Jazz Combo will perform music by Miles Davis, Benny Golson, Horace Silver, and Sam Jones.

• SXU Jazz Ensemble Spring Concert, 7:30 p.m., Fri., April 20, McGuire Hall – The SXU Jazz Ensemble will perform music by Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, W.C. Handy, Thelonious Monk, Oliver Nelson, Jimmy Van Heusen, and Kurt Weill.

• University Orchestra presents “Finale: Beethoven’s First," 7:30 p.m., Wed., April 25, Rehearsal/Performance Space - The University Orchestra will end its 2012 season with the composer who concluded the classical period and propelled symphonic music to new heights, Ludwig van Beethoven.

• Wind Ensemble and special guests the Kelly High School Band present "Cartoon! Classical Pops," 7:30 p.m., Thurs., April 26, Rehearsal/Performance Space - The SXU Wind Ensemble will end its season by showcasing the lighter side of band music, ranging from a quirky Strauss polka, jewels from the great American musical composer Leonard Bernstein, and Paul Hart's "Cartoon."

• SXU Opera Workshop presents Mozart's "The Magic Flute", 7:30 p.m. on Fri., April 27 and Sat., April 28, McGuire Hall - This well-known opera was first produced in Vienna as a spectacular fairy tale. It will be performed in English with spoken dialogue, allowing for a wonderfully burlesque comedy with a bit of conflict between good and evil. All performances will run approximately two hours and fifteen minutes with one intermission. General admission tickets are $8, and $5 for visiting students and senior citizens with ID. There is ample free parking on campus. In addition to the public performances, there will be a special performance for senior citizens and students at 3 p.m. on Thurs., April 26 for a reduced price of $3. Teachers interested in bringing a group of students should contact the Music Department at (773) 298-3421.

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

Professional ghost hunter to share eerie tales of London's haunted landmarks at SXU

“London Ghosts and the Mystery of Jack the Ripper” with Richard T. Crowe on April 19

Chicago (April 9, 2012) Professional ghost hunter and paranormal expert Richard T. Crowe will share stories about London’s most famous haunted landmarks at Saint Xavier University's 2012 John T. Farrell, Sr. Spring Forum. The event, titled “London Ghosts and the Mystery of Jack the Ripper,” is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thurs., April 19 in the Butler Reception room, located in the Warde Academic Center at SXU’s Chicago campus, 3700 W 103rd St. This event is free and open to the public.

Crowe will share the secrets and mysteries of the Tower of London, the sinister haunted East End, and other eerie locales. He will also tell of the legends that a ghostly Jack the Ripper and his unfortunate victims still materialize in Whitechapel and Spitalfields.

Crowe has appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "That's Incredible!," "Unsolved Mysteries," "Hard Copy," and international TV programs. Crowe organized the world's first haunted bus tour in Chicago in 1973, and earned his BA and MA in English literature at DePaul University.

This event is sponsored by SXU's Renaissance Academy, which is designed with the goal of providing intellectual growth, enrichment and fellowship. This collegial association encourages development of new interests and is part of the Saint Xavier University's community outreach program. The courses are interactive and are enriched by the active participation and fellowship of the participants. Members consist of retired and semi-retired men and women interested in pursuing life-long learning opportunities. The forum is named in honor of John T. Farrell Sr., a senior economic research analyst and deputy branch chief for the Central Intelligence Agency from 1952 to 1979. Farrell and his wife, Lucille, were facilitators at the Renaissance Academy, teaching a class called “Inside Washington” and a writing workshop. After his death in 1994, Lucille gave a contribution to fund the speaker’s bureau in his name.

For more information, please contact Kathleen Fassl at (773) 233-3770.


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Wednesday, April 4, 2012

SXU to host "Titanic: 100th Anniversary Remembrance"

Theatrical performance and screening of "A Night to Remember" on April 12

Chicago (April 4, 2012) Saint Xavier University will host a theatrical performance and movie screening at "Titanic: 100th Anniversary Remembrance" on Thurs., April 12 to commemorate the centennial of the disastrous sinking of the famous ocean liner. The performance, by Denise Vanaria, will be from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. in McGuire Hall, located in the Warde Academic Center at SXU's Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St. Afterwards, attendees can enjoy a screening of the film "A Night to Remember" from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., also in McGuire Hall. Both events are free and open to the public.

Vanaria will portray Helen Andrews, widow of the Titanic’s chief designer Thomas Andrews. Thomas was often in disagreement with the minimum safety standards set by the British Board of Trade, but was consistently overruled. After the ship collided with an iceberg, Thomas’ final hours were spent trying to evacuate the women and children of Titanic. He went down with the ship and his body was never recovered. He left behind Helen and their 17-month-old daughter Elizabeth. Laugh, cry, and mourn with “those left behind” as Helen discovers herself, her womanhood, her future, and her deep and incredibly passionate love for her husband.

The 1958 British film "A Night to Remember" was directed by Roy Baker and based on the book by Walter Lord. It is widely considered to be the most accurate depiction of the Titanic disaster. The movie focuses on the sinking from the standpoint of Second Officer Charles Herbert Lightoller, the most senior surviving officer.

This event is sponsored by SXU's Robert and Mary Rita Murphy Stump Library. For more information, contact Dave Kohut at (773) 298-3355 or kohut@sxu.edu.

-SXU-

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

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Get free estate planning advice from legal and financial experts at SXU

Basic Estate Planning 101 is Sat., May 5

Chicago (April 3, 2012) Are you one of the millions of Americans without critical estate planning documents? Join trusted legal and financial advisers to learn about wills, trusts, managing assets, and more at Basic Estate Planning 101 at Saint Xavier University. The seminar is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to noon on Sat., May 5 in the Butler Reception Room, located in the Warde Academic Center at SXU’s Chicago campus, 3700 W. 103rd St. The event is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be served.

Basic Estate Planning 101 will help participants identify their assets, make a plan to manage them during their lifetimes, and offer advice on how to distribute them after their deaths. Presenters for this session include:
• Paul Lechner, a professor in SXU's Graham School of Management, an attorney/CPA/MBA with an LL.M. in tax law, and the owner of the Lechner Law Office in Orland Hills.
• Gerald J. Broadhurst, CLU, ChFC, a Certified Estate Planner and a senior member of St. Ignatius College Prep's Estate Planning Council.

Estate Planning 101 is the first program in a series designed to provide information on estate planning. Seating is limited. To register in advance or for more information, contact University Advancement at (773) 298-3940 or advancement@sxu.edu.

-SXU-

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