It has been quite an exciting week at SHU. My video blog features our visit with Archbishop and Apostolic Nuncio Christophe Pierre, our recent efforts to highlight the prominent people our residence halls are named after, the great work of our faculty and the impressive talents exhibited by our student-performers and athletes. Have a wonderful weekend!
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February 2017
President Petillo's Blog: February 17, 2017
We had another eventful week filled with good news, lectures, athletics, celebrations and art. There’s always something for everyone here at SHU.
Great news from our College of Nursing: our graduates from the family nurse practitioner (FNP) program received a 100 percent pass rate on the national FNP certification exam. This confirms the excellent work of our faculty and students. Great job!
Our film and television master's program was featured recently in the Hearst publications. The article focused on the program’s emphasis on storytelling and the use of new technology. SHU professors Justin Liberman and Damon Maulucci were interviewed.
Keith Johnston had a great trip to Cuba earlier this month. He traveled to Santiago to give master classes and perform a concert at the Orquesta Sinfonica de Oriente. Keith conducted a week of classes and rehearsals with the orchestra’s brass section. I am looking forward to reading about it in an interview that Keith gave to the Fairfield Citizen upon his return.
This week, members of our human resources team picked up the award for promoting a healthy workplace that I mentioned in my last video blog. Congratulations again for your efforts on behalf of all of us.
A team of 20 nursing students and four faculty members from the College of Nursing returned home last weekend after a successful one-week immersion in Guatemala. This type of service is the hallmark of who we are.
Last weekend, campus was flooded with siblings and alumni. Our annual Siblings Weekend united brothers and sisters for a fun weekend of activities. Former students also joined us on Saturday for Alumni Day where they reconnected with old friends, visited campus and toured the new West Campus. It was great to see Pioneers from the past, present and future!
Valentine’s Day was Tuesday, and I hope everyone spent the day surrounded by people they love. Folks from our LessThanUThink anti-drinking campaign handed out Valentine’s Day swag and reminded peers that it doesn’t take much alcohol before you begin to be impaired.
State Sen. Tony Hwang visited Professor Gary Rose’s senior seminar class on Wednesday. The senator talked about the difference between federal and state law and answered questions from the class.
Also on Wednesday, we held two educational and interesting lecture events. “Building Trust Between Police and Community” was one colloquium that offered insights into the challenges in an era of increased transparency and accountability. The Hersher Institute for Applied Ethics invited Fr. James Keenan, a professor of moral theology at Boston College, to speak about his book University Ethics. The discussion from this event is ongoing.
The Art & Design Gallery’s new exhibit, Artist’s Life Cut Short, features the work of Stefan Novotny, a local resident and artist who died of a heroin overdose. The exhibit will allow visitors to engage visually with Stefan’s dreams, doubts, demons and passions. An opening reception was held on Thursday – I encourage all to visit.
Each year I am honored to participate in Delta Tau Delta’s launch of the White Ribbon Campaign. Members of the organization and other Pioneers pledge to end violence against women and girls. It is an important cause, and I hope many of you were able to attend their event today.
This weekend, SHU has much music in store. Our theater arts program presents Working: A Musical in the Little Theatre. Get your tickets now. Also Gospelfest takes place Saturday at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit. The event features our Liturgical Choir, SHU L.O.V.E., the Pioneer Choir, guests choirs from the University of Bridgeport and guests from various churches. This is always an inspiring and uplifting event.
On Saturday, our men and women’s ice hockey teams play. Our men’s team battles Bentley at the Webster Bank Arena at 7 in their last home game of the season, and our women’s team faces Post University at the Sports Center of Connecticut at 4:15. Good luck to all our student-athletes playing home and away.
Be sure to follow me on social media and keep up with what our Pioneers are doing!
Have a wonderful weekend!
President Petillo's Blog: February 10, 2017
We finally received a real blast of winter, and I hope everyone stayed safe and warm during the storm. As always, my thanks go out to those employees and vendors who were on campus yesterday ensuring that our students were fed, warm and happy, that sidewalks and roads were cleared and preparations were in place for all contingencies.
Students, staff and faculty gathered in the classrooms surrounding University Commons on Wednesday for the first-ever CASCon conference put on by the College of Arts & Sciences. The event showcased the work of SHU faculty from multiple disciplines. The work ranged from technology, Catholic studies and literature to sustainability and approached the topics from unique and interesting angles. I hope many were able to attend.
Professor Michelle Loris moderated a wonderful colloquium on Wednesday, “A Jewish, Christian, Muslim Conversation: Sacred Texts that Unite and Divide,” sponsored by the nonprofit Peace Islands Institute. Three panelists, including SHU’s Fr. Tony Ciorra, were involved in the discussion. What a great evening.
The Hersher Institute of Ethics is sponsoring a school supply drive for the nonprofit organization, buildOn. Throughout the month, they are encouraging the donation of pencils, pens, crayons, notebooks, loose-leaf paper, binders and folders. Donations can be dropped off in the box in the philosophy/religious studies office.
The Pitt Center was indeed packed for Pack the Pitt on Thursday night. We watched our men’s basketball team beat St. Francis Brooklyn by a score of 68-56. What a great game, and thank you, Pioneers, for making the snowy trek to cheer on our student-athletes.
A group of our local legislatures were here this morning for a great discussion over breakfast on issues impacting not only SHU, but the community and state. We appreciate their support and willingness to hear our feedback.
We have a lot to look forward to this weekend. On Saturday, we are hosting our annual Siblings Weekend. I cannot wait to see our Pioneers with their brothers and sisters around campus. Also on Saturday, we are hosting Alumni Day. This is a great opportunity for former students to see what’s going on here, get a tour of our new West Campus, watch a basketball game and, of course, catch up with old friends.
Our women’s swimming and diving team received the Scholar All-America Award from the Northeast Conference for the fall semester as a result of their stellar performance in the classroom. A big congratulations to coach John Spadafina and the rest of the swimming and diving staff who are building champions, and hats off to the student-athletes. Great job!
Our student-athletes have another competitive weekend ahead of them. Tonight our men’s volleyball team takes on Charleston W.V. at 7 and again on Saturday at 7:30. Our men’s ice hockey team plays Canisus at 7 at the Webster Bank Arena and again on Saturday at 2. Our women’s hockey team battles Rhode Island at 8 at the Sports Center of Connecticut and again Saturday at 1:30. Our women’s basketball team plays Central Connecticut State University on Saturday at 1 and our men’s basketball team battles them right after at 3:30. Our women’s lacrosse team plays Post at 1 on Saturday. Go Pioneers!
Do not forget to check out all my photos and posts on social media!
Have a great weekend. Enjoy the time with your siblings!
President Petillo's Blog: February 3, 2017
It looks like we have another six weeks of winter ahead of us! Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow yesterday – but I think we can handle the cold and some more snow. Our campus sure looked like a winter wonderland earlier this week.
I want to thank everyone who attended the prayer service on Tuesday. It was a wonderful turnout, and it exemplified our inclusiveness and the value we, as a community, place on the rights and dignity of every human being. To watch a video of the full service, click here.
Our students continue to impress me with their talents. Graduate students assisted with the making of this Dan Patrick Show promotional video for the Super Bowl filmed at the Martire Center. What a fun clip! Senior Sarah DeNisco also has a knack for making videos. She is a finalist in NESN’s Next Producer contest. Take a look at her video and vote for her here.
Professor Jonas Zdanys held a book talk at the Art & Design Gallery Wednesday for his new book of poetry, St. Brigid’s Well. The book was inspired by his teachings at SHU’s campus in Dingle. Can’t wait to read it.
If you have not stopped by Bergoglio Hall, I suggest you do soon. Professor Nathan Lewis’s mural, “Finding their Voices” is on display. Nathan said the scrolls of text that wind through the image are quotes from various thinkers that students encounter in their studies. Since the mural is in Bergoglio Hall, Pope Francis is shown at the top left. His hand reaches out in blessing next to the flag bearing the symbols of the University’s coat of arms. If you follow the flagpole it leads to a group of honor students in the Ethics Bowl. Another circle shows students celebrating at Red’s. They are holding the different types of drinks offered there with one holding car keys as a designated driver. Big Red jumps in from behind to photo-bomb the group. Other rings show the rugby team working as a community, a student dance and the choir. The foreground figures on the left bask in the sun of the quad reading books as sunlight illuminates their mind and bodies. The figure in the foreground is from the Winter Guard team and is wearing the colors of the University, while throwing the flag skyward. Thank you for this incredible piece of art, Nathan.
Campus Ministry is holding a "Soup-er Bowl" from now until Super Bowl Sunday. The purpose of the event is to have a little fun before the big football game but, more importantly, to collect food for the Homeless Outreach Team of Bridgeport. Campus Ministry is asking students, faculty and staff to drop off cans of soup at their offices using either the Atlanta Falcons-decorated box or the New England Patriots-decorated box. There’s even a scoreboard keeping track of how many cans have been collected for each team. May the best team win!
While the pros play this weekend, our student-athletes will also be busy competing. Our men’s volleyball team takes on Alderson Broaddus tonight at 7, then plays Lincoln Memorial Saturday at 7 and again at 1 on Sunday. On Saturday, our women’s basketball team battles Bryant at 1 and our men’s basketball team plays Bryant at 3:30. Good luck to all our student-athletes playing home and away.
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Have a great weekend, and enjoy the game!