Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan speaks at Saint Xavier University Sept. 17, 2009

Chicago (April 30, 2009) Tickets go on sale soon to see Former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan as the fourth speaker in the highly successful SXU Voices & Visions Speaker Series at Saint Xavier University in Chicago. Annan will speak at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 17.

Annan will present “The Five Rules of International Diplomacy,” a call for multilateralism and a renewed faith in a global approach to tackling the world’s problems.

Prior to his lecture, Annan will conduct a special classroom discussion with Saint Xavier students.
“We are very pleased that Former Secretary General Annan continues our tradition of bringing the best of international figures to the Chicago area,” said Robert Tenczar, vice president for University Relations. “Mr. Annan is an ideal interpreter for our times and will undoubtedly provide a uniquely informed perspective as America works with other countries to meet the world’s challenges.”



Annan served as United Nations Secretary-General from 1997 to 2006. During his tenure, he made his mark as an advocate for human rights, the rule of law and the revitalization of the United Nations. He has been a key figure in the fight against HIV/AIDS and a leader of the multilateral response to the global terrorist threat.



When elected to the Secretary-Generalship in 1997, Annan became the first Secretary-General to come directly from the United Nations staff, and the first from a black African nation to hold the position.



As Secretary-General, Annan worked to bolster the United Nation’s relationship with businesses and civil society groups, sponsoring a Global Compact initiative to promote corporate social responsibility. He was instrumental in laying out the Millennium Development Goals, a strategy to meet the needs of the world’s poorest by 2015. In 2005, Annan succeeded in persuading the United Nations to establish the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council, new intergovernmental bodies dedicated to global peace and welfare. Annan was also a chief proponent of the creation of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. On Dec. 10, 2001, Annan and the United Nations received the Nobel Peace Prize.



Since leaving the United Nations, Annan has continued to press for better policies to meet the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly in Africa. He has also continued to use his experience to mediate and resolve conflict. In Kenya in early 2008, Annan led the AU Panel of Eminent African Personalities to help find a peaceful resolution to the post-election violence. The event is sponsored by the Office of University Relations and in part by the Student Activities Board.



For more information about the event, please call (773) 298-3311 or e-mail specialevents@sxu.edu. Reporters interested in covering Annan’s lecture or taking advantage of a special media opportunity the day of the lecture should contact Director of Media Relations Joe Moore at (773) 298-3937 or (773) 203-6671 (cell).



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SXU students receive 2009 Outstanding Honors Senior Project Awards

Lisa James of Blue Island and Jacqueline McGill of Oak Lawn honored for their work

Chicago (April 29, 2009) Two Saint Xavier University students received 2009 Outstanding Honors Senior Project Awards at Saint Xavier’s Seventh Annual Honors Senior Project Conference.

Lisa James won the Outstanding Honors Senior Research Project Award for her in-depth analysis of two competing theories of language acquisition in “The Logical and the Dialogical, Resolving the Cognitive/Collaborative Feud in Second Language Acquisition.”

James, a Spanish major/communication minor from Blue Island, has been accepted into the graduate program in Hispanic Studies at the University of Illinois-Chicago, and is the recipient of a competitive Graduate Teaching Assistantship in that program.

Jacqueline McGill won the Outstanding Honors Senior Creative Project Award for “Identity Exploration Through Archetypal Imagery: A Visual Journey.”

McGill, an art/secondary education major from Oak Lawn, was inspired by a course she took in Art Therapy at the Art Institute of Chicago, and by her interest in the concept of universal archetypes formulated by Carl Jung. She explored the artifacts of her own past selves, gathered and integrated materials, images, and designs that expressed them, and produced a collection of beautiful cards and an actual card catalog in which to house them.

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SXU holds Saxophone Quartet recital

3 p.m. on Sunday, May 3

Chicago (Apr 29, 2009) The Saint Xavier University Saxophone Quartet will perform a recital at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 3 in the Butler Reception Room on the Chicago campus 3700 W. 103rd St. Chicago.

The Quartet will be joined by two music department alumni, and will present a music recital of classical, jazz and Latin music.

The even is open to the public and a Goodwill donation is requested for admission. For more information please contact Lara Regan at 773-298-3423 or at regan@sxu.edu.

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Saint Xavier University Library hosts 60 St. Cajetan students

Eighth-graders conduct research projects

Chicago (April 29, 2009) Sixty eighth-grade students from St. Cajetan School in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood visited Saint Xavier University’s Bryne Memorial Library to conduct research on Wednesday, April 29, 2009.

Saint Xavier Library Director Mark Vargas extended the invitation to the students’ English teacher, Ms. Jean Swiecicki, who had been in search of a library for the students to conduct introductory research techniques. Tasks included created a question about a topic, planning a strategy of which sources to use, gathering and organizing information, and citing sources.

“I extended an invitation to Ms. Swiecicki and her students as part of our Mercy mission, and she was delighted we could help,” Vargas said, referring to the Sisters of Mercy from Dublin, Ireland who founded Saint Xavier in 1846.

Along with Vargas, the Saint Xavier librarians who assisted the students with their research included David Kohut, James Kusik, Cheryl Howe, Anne Buchannan and Anita Morgan.

Photo 1 from Left to Right: SXU Library Director Mark Vargas, and St. Cajetan 8th Graders Emily Oliver and Maggie Graney-Dolan.

Photo 2: St. Cajetan Eighth Graders conduct research in the Bishop Quarter Room of the Saint Xavier Byrne Memorial Library. From left to right: Caitlin Cronin, Shannon Cosgrove and Colleen Cusack.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Joe Moore
773-298-3937 or jmoore@sxu.edu


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Saint Xavier University joins Independent 529 Plan

Tuition prepayment plan enables parents to lock in tuition rates now for future use

(April 29, 2009) CHICAGO, Ill. – Saint Xavier University has become the latest institution to join Independent 529 Plan, allowing parents to lock in tuition rates for their children’s future use.

Independent 529 Plan was launched in 2003 in a cooperative effort by a national group of private colleges and universities to help families manage the rising cost of higher education. Under the program, individuals can purchase tuition certificates for future redemption at any of the participating private colleges and universities, now including Saint Xavier.

“We are pleased to join many universities and colleges across the country in helping students to secure access and affordability in their pursuit of higher education,” said Saint Xavier University President Judith A. Dwyer, Ph.D.

“This plan is an innovative way for parents to provide for their children’s future education at less than today’s cost,” said Nancy Farmer, president and chief executive officer of Independent 529 Plan.

“In return for parents prepaying college costs, member colleges and universities accept the investment risk and protect parents from future tuition increases,” Farmer said. “Tuition purchased today is guaranteed to satisfy costs at the time the child enrolls. A parent who purchases a half year of tuition today will receive a half year of tuition when the child later redeems the tuition certificate at a member college. This is true regardless of how much tuition rises or what happens in the investment markets,” she said. “In fact, families will pay slightly less than current tuition because each of our participating schools discounts the tuition certificates by at least one-half of one percent per year.”

Saint Xavier University brings to 12 the number of Illinois colleges and universities that are members of Independent 529 Plan. The others are Augustana College, Bradley University, Elmhurst College, Illinois Institute of Technology, Illinois Wesleyan University, Knox College, Lake Forest College, Monmouth College, North Central College, Olivet Nazarene University, and the University of Chicago.

Nationally, a few of the more than 270 institutions participating in Independent 529 Plan include Stanford University, Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Notre Dame, Washington University in St. Louis, Carnegie-Mellon University, and Wake Forest University.

About Saint Xavier University

Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1846, Saint Xavier University was the first Mercy college in the United States and is Chicago’s oldest Catholic university. Serving approximately 5,600 students at its campuses in Chicago, Orland Park and its Loop location, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors; more than 40 graduate program options in arts and sciences, business, education and nursing; and a variety of program options in continuing and professional studies. Recognizing Saint Xavier’s excellence in education, U.S. News and World Report has ranked SXU consistently among the Best Colleges in the Midwest. To learn more about Saint Xavier, visit www.sxu.edu.

About Independent 529 Plan

Independent 529 Plan is run by the nonprofit Tuition Plan Consortium and administered by TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing Inc. Funds saved can be used at any of the participating colleges and universities nationwide. Benefits are free of federal income tax, and the plan charges no enrollment or maintenance fees. For more information about Independent 529, call (toll free) 888-718-7878 or visit www.independent529plan.org.

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Contact:

Nancy Farmer
President
Independent 529 Plan
877-874-0740
nancyf@i529.org

Joe Moore
Director of Media Relations
Saint Xavier University
773-298-3937
jmoore@sxu.edu

SXU Campus Bookstore Sale April 27-May 9

The Saint Xavier University Campus Bookstore will hold a store-wide sale April 27 to May 9. The sale offers 20 percent off most items in the store, as well as clearance items. Shop early for the best selection.