Cabrini’s educational mission as a Catholic liberal education led a Nebraska University’s interim dean to apply for the position of Cabrini’s next vice president for academic affairs and provost .

“I want to be a part of a place (like Cabrini) that is working towards making a positive impact on society,” Dr. Peter Heckman, interim dean for the college of liberal arts and sciences at Nebraska Wesleyan University, said.

Heckman is one of two candidates under consideration to fill the role of vice president and provost.  He visited campus on Wednesday, March 10, to meet with Cabrini faculty, staff and students. Heckman discussed his credentials and interest in Cabrini to its student leaders. He said that he is most interested in Cabrini because of its piloted Justice Matters curriculum.

“It embodies the charism of Mother Cabrini in a tangible manner,” Heckman said.  “The fact that faculty made it and support it is impressive.”

Heckman wants to help implement and work on the specifics of this new program. He also explained that Dr. Marie George, Cabrini College president, impressed him.

“She even went to Guatemala, which was nuts,” Heckman joked.   He believes that he would learn a lot from working alongside George.

Heckman listed Cabrini’s main challenges that would need to be addressed if chosen for the position.   Serving in the interim dean role at Wesleyan University has given, what he believes to be, the needed experience to correct them. According to Heckman there are a lot of enrollment issues, especially regarding retention.  “Your retention rate is simply unacceptable,” Heckman said.

He attributes his university’s 80 percent retention rate to its outreach programs to commuter students, mentors for transfer students, a CARE TEAM, which talks about struggling students and continually addressing curricular obstacles.  These could be possible solutions to fixing Cabrini’s retention rate.

Heckman believes, however, that Justice Matters will gradually help enrollment.  “Justice Matters is bold and brave and is going to make an impact on enrollment. It will build over time,” Heckman said.

Another issue of concern to Heckman was the poor full-time faculty to adjunct faculty ratio.  Heckman would also want to make sure that the Cabrinian ethos has been properly established within its Masters Program.  Other issues of concern included resource pressure, lack of diversity and spacial expansion.

He ultimately believes that Cabrini is the right fit for him.  Heckman said that Cabrini is a special school, as exemplified by its faculty.

“This is not your everyday faculty, they are really committed,” Heckman said.  “This is the right kind of education that I want to be involved with.”

Depicted is Dr. Heckman. -- Nebraska wesleyan

Florida makes big plans to rescue wetlands

Florida is continuing on with expensive plans to save the Everglades. This project will cost $1.75 billion. However, due to the recession the state was only able to purchase 72,800 acres of the land. In the near future Florida will move on to purchase the remaining 107,000 acres. The costliness of the project, however, will end up pushing back the actual date when the project begins.

Obama pushes Senate to finalize health care decision

President Barack Obama told members of his party that it is necessary to make a decision about the health care plan. President Obama delayed his trip to Indonesia in order to push the Senate to make a final decision about health care. Neither party will reconsider their stance, making a compromise seem impossible.

Aid given for Somalia’s needy winding up short

The food aid that is given to Somalia is not reaching the people it is meant to help. The food is ending up in the hands of corrupt members of the government. The United Nations is suggesting a complete overhaul of the entire program. Then the food, which is expected to feed 2.5 million people, will reach the people truly in need of the aid.

Obama to call for sweeping change in ‘No Child Left Behind’ law

President Barack Obama is calling for major changes in the Bush administration “No Child Left Behind” law. Two aspects of Bush’s law in particular will be targeted. Many educators say that under No Child, teachers teach to the test and so have eliminated important aspects of children’s education. Obama also will focus on changing the notion of school report cards that labels a third of the nation’s schools as failing. Obama wants to replace the pass-fail test for schools with a more detailed analysis.

Ground Zero workers reach settlement over health problems

Workers at Ground Zero who suffered extreme health issues have reached a settlement of money to cover their health issues. The settlement is $657.5 million. However this is only the settlement that 95 percent of the workers agree to the lawsuit. Each worker will get money depending on the seriousness of his or her injury.

MCT

Cabrini College’s public safety held a “safety walk” that encouraged students to discuss their thoughts on campus security and make suggestions for  how to improve different areas of the campus.

The walk took students around Cabrini on Wednesday, March 10. It was led by Howard Holden, director of facilities, and Lil Burroughs, director of public safety, who were both eager for students to voice their opinions.

“You [the students)] are the primary users of the campus. You’re the ones that are out here walking on a daily basis going from one facility to another, more than the rest of us, and that’s why we want to bring you into the picture, to get student perspective participation in the process,” Holden said.

Holden and Burroughs talked with students on the walk and brought up campus issues like lighting, paths to residence halls and buildings and parking.

“I believe that students are technically the paying customers and we care about what they say.  I feel that I can say, ‘I want lighting,’ but you as a student have a stronger voice to get the lights rather than an employee at the school. I want students to always speak out, especially for safety purposes,” Burroughs said.

According to Holden the college will be undergoing a “master plan process” to alleviate many campus safety issues like parking, lighting and pedestrian issues.  Any measures that are currently being taken are temporary to ensure students’ comfort and safety on the campus.

The Student Government Association participated in the event.

“I think it is good that they’re doing that.  In the past they have made little changes to the campus where they needed to, but I think it’s good they are finally making bigger changes,” Maryellen Anastasio, junior communication major and SGA president of the junior class, said.

Holden and Burroughs also went over many precautions that public safety has already taken such as the new “S.O.S boxes” around campus that contain salt for the bad weather, the emergency call boxes and newly installed lights.

“I am happy we get to have these safety walks.  I always hear my friends complaining about lighting on campus. My number one thing was the lighting behind the library so I am happy I got to talk to Holden and Lil about these issues,” Lauren Galonski, senior psychology and sociology major and SGA president, said.

Holden and Burroughs both stressed that they want the students to always feel comfortable and never hesitate to call public safety if they need them or just want to make a suggestion.

“A campus changes faster than most people think and we want to make sure that on an annual basis we are keeping up with those changes in the eye of the students, not just our eyes,” Holden said.

Brother Dominic Wetzel talked about how his religious order helped shape his beliefs during the Founder’s Day presentation. Katie Keller/submitted photo

Thirteen students, faculty and staff gave insight into their core beliefs in front of an audience of 150.  These personal statements from the community, rather than a major speaker, served as the format for this year’s Founder’s Day program,

The event, which was held on Tuesday, Feb. 23, featured the voices of Cabrini’s community.  The theme, “This I Believe,” was woven into each presentation, so as to celebrate the college’s “education of the heart” mission instilled by its founder, Sister Ursula Infante.

Some presenters said their beliefs were ordinary…

“I believe in miracles,” Jaiquann Beckham, freshman presenter, said.

“I believe in being there,” Sara Drew, Holy Spirit reference librarian and presenter, said.

“I believe in respecting a dork,” Kwesi Djan, freshman presenter, said.

…But each had stemmed from personal experiences.

Beckham believed in miracles because of the hard work and dedication that had been exemplified by seven track teammates from his high school.

Together they had excelled both athletically and academically, collectively earning seven scholarships.

“Seven students, seven athletes, seven scholarships, one focus, one mission, because of that I believe in miracles what do you believe in?” Beckham said.

Djan believed in respecting a dork since he has been working on accomplishing the goal of  “seeing my mom live long enough to see her son grow up and be a man she can be proud of,” Djan said.  “And that involves getting a college degree.”

Some developed their presentations from commonplace experiences such as Dr. Michelle Filling snuggling with her small nieces.

Others developed their ideas from more profound experiences such as that of junior Eleni Antipas, who as an infant, survived a near-fatal disease through the research of someone who died tragically soon after finding a cure for her disease.

Others included the belief for a desire to make a difference, snuggling, love in action, music, laughter, being there, that certain qualities are needed to be a founder, random acts of kindness, spicy chicken sandwich and that everyone has a purpose in life.

Dr. Mary Laver, director of international partnerships, gave the opening remarks for the program; Fr. Michael Bielecki, Cabrini chaplain, followed with an opening prayer.

Cabrini alumnus Heather Cardamone, ‘91, who now serves as the director of administrative services, emceed for the evening.

“I did not know Sister Ursula personally…she was not my classmate but I knew she loved Cabrini very much and loved her students,” Cardamore said.  “She would be here cheering you on and this I believe.”

The presenters each read his or her previously submitted essays.  Three, however, chose to present as a narrative trio.

A musical interlude of the song “I believe” was sung by senior Michael Krencicki and accompanied by junior Rob Stoop.

“Words and essays can’t always capture the essence of core beliefs, but singing can,” Cardamone said.

Dr. Joseph Romano, professor of philosophy, was chosen to conclude the evening’s event, as he had worked closely with Infante.  Romano evaluated the artistic, physical and ideal realities associated with knowledge. “I believe in the power of human ideas,” Romano said.

Laver made closing remarks. Upon reflecting on the presentation, Laver said “There is so much vibrancy in this community.”

Soldiers scan for possible snipers in nearby apartment buildings in al Noor neighobrhood, north Mosul, Iraq on January 26, 2008. Charlie Company, First Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, Fourth Division based at Fort Carson, Colorado (Steve Lannen/Lexington Herald-Leader/MCT)

U.S. rocket kills 10 Afghan civilians

The 10 deaths, five of which were children, came two days into a new military strategy in Marja. Top American commander Gen. Stanley A. McCrystal apologized to President Hamid Karzai. Avoiding civilian deaths is the basis for American strategy in the Middle East.

Secret raid captures Taliban commander

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a top Taliban military commander, was captured in a secret joint raid by American and Pakistani intelligence officers. American officials call Baradar the most significant Taliban figure to be detained since the American-led war in Afghanistan started more than eight years ago.

New nuclear reactors approves by government

The U.S. government has approved an $8.3 billion loan guarantee to build two nuclear reactors in Georgia. These will be the first new reactors built on American soil since the 1970s. President Obama has embraced nuclear energy as a clear energy alternative.

Snipers are effective for Afghan offense

Afghan military have begun using snipers in combat in the new U.S. campaign in Marja. There have been five Marines hit by these long-range shots, one fatally.

States consider cuts to Medicad

Virtually every state is eyeing possible cuts to Medicaid. In order to try and save money, states are cutting optional coverage since they are not allowed to change eligibility. This comes at the same time as Democrats pushing for $15 million in funding for the program.

Anthrax case officially closed

The F.B.I. has officially closed the case on the anthrax attacks from eight years ago that killed five people. The attacks were carried out by Bruce E. Ivins, a military biodefense expert who killed himself in 2008. The 92-page report is considered the largest F.B.I. investigation in history.

Jobless to stay jobless in better economy

As the economy starts to head north, don’t expect the unemployment rate to do the same right away. Economists are worried that there will not be enough new jobs to meet the needs of the record number of Americans without them.