.SeeFeatures
I ltriday,sept. 26, 1986 cabrinicollege,radnor,pa. 19087
vol.xxxiii,no. 3
Parents Weekend:
Fee createsmisconceptions by Christy Mason
As the so-called "grapevine" winds its way through the ins and outs of Cabrini's Parents Weekend, to be held Oct. 4, 5 and 6, a certain $15 fee gets snagged on the vine. According to the Parents Weekend information card that was sent to all parents, the $15 fee (or $10 fee per child under 18) includes, "convocation and reception, admission to soccer and field hockey and cross country games, family fun and enrichment activities, President's reception, Saturday lunch, Sunday brunch, liturgy." With the wording as such, it is easy to understand why some parents are bewildered that they have to pay $15 merely for the privilege of being on campus. While the $15 fee per person is no misconception, for many, the reasoning behind it is. The added cost of $15 is for the purpose of covering lunch on Saturday and brunch on Sunday, if dining on campus.
The projected cost for Saturday's luncheon is $7.18 per person while Sunday's brunch costs approximately $7. 76 per person. According to James Fitzsimmons, dean of students, the school is subsidizing $1000 toward the event which is bringing down the cost of the meals from what would be over $16 to $15. "We're not charging for the events," Fitzsimmons said. "Perhaps the wording (on the information card) was something inadequate." .l<'itzsimmons, who spoke to Kappa Sigma Omega members (the student service organization in charge of parents weekend) at their meeting on Sept. 17, explained that the philosophy behind the $15 cost is to encourage people to stay on campus instead of going off-campus. "We're trying to upgrade the lunch and stay on campus, he said. "We don't want Parents Wee)send spent at Bennigan's or Coco's."
"It's a campus event," he continued "not a Wayne or King of Prussia event." ' In order to keep the cost of the meals down, it was decided that Seiler's would cater the event so that resident students could eat free. Thus, residents need not worry about paying an additional fee which they would have had to pay if Seiler'~ was not handling the catering.
Families who do not wish to eat on campus don't have to pay this additional fee. They will be admitted to all activities held on campus during the weekend. If a family wants to eat at only one of the meals, the price per person is $8. "I can't exclude anyone," Joe Guiffre president, Kappa Sigma Omega, said'. "Just because you don't pay $15, doesn't mean that you don't come."
The meals, which will be held outside, are more expensive than what a non-resident would normally pay due to additional labor costs. Extra labor is needed to properly set up and clean up a dining area outside. 'lb avoid long lines, four buffet lines instead of two, will be set up, again adding to the extra cost of labor.
"We hope to create a mind-set where if you pay the $15 than you'll stay on-campus," Calicat said. "I understand the philosophy behind the fee," Kate Grimely, senior, said, "but I'm sympathetic toward upper-classmen who don't want to go through the same thing."
"We're trying to keep parents on campus not at the mall," Rita Calicat, director of student activities, said. All the activities that have been planned will suffer if they leave. We tried to package it so parents will stay on campus."
"The most important thing is that it was done for and not against," Guiffre said.'½ !ot of thought anctcofl§ideration went into it and although it may not seem like it, a lot of people were consulted."
Dedication marked by 27 years of service "It was one of the greatest things that we've~ver done," Romano said. "It was natural for us to do that. The guys fit in nicely." Also, between 1981 and 1982, Romano, along with Ruth Sower, coordinator of the Master's in Education (M.Ed) program, and chairperson of the education department and Dr. Anne Kennedy, a faculty member who has since left Cabrini, created the M.Ed. program committee. Romano, Sower and Kennedy worked on it for a year and a half taking trips to Harrisburg, writing, making up a budget, and talking with consultants.
by Kathleen Dooley Within the cluster of offices in Counsel Hall, he is all business. He exchanges information with Mary Ann Biller, academic dean, meets with both faculty and students, and communicates regularly with Zita Derham, his secretary. Outside, he is everywhere. He converses with a student in Widener Center, visits the Continuing Education office, dines with the teaching staff in the cafeteria, and walks along Cabrini's main road. Now beginning his twenty-seventh year at Cabrini, it is evident that Dr. Joseph J. Romano, vice-president of academic affairs, has long been dedicated to the school. Perhaps it is demonstrated in Romano's daily efforts, which begin with his arrival at the Academic Affairs office between 8 and 8:30 a.m. From 9 a.m. onward, he is immersed in his work. According to Derham, on a typical day he first fulfills appointments made with students and faculty. He tries to always be readily available to both. "I like to keep my door open, and be stopped in the hallways by people who have problems," Romano said. "That makes the job challenging and diverse." He is also involved in various projects. He is chairperson of the Master Planning Committee, which coordinates a11 the plans from the areas of academics and student life to that oflnstitutional Resources, which includes the business office,developmental office and alumni office. Currently, he is completing a document which includes overview plans for these areas to Sister Eileen Currie, MSC, president. She is to present this document to the Board of Trustees. According to Romano, this is one of his biggest jobs. "I work with good people," he said, "so it's not so bad." He cites Biller in particular. "I try to support and assist her," Romano said. At present, both administrators are working on the Professional Development Grant , which is part of a program to improve the curriculum, profPssional development and advising at Cabrini. The program was made available through a $140,000 grant awarded by the Pew Foundation in Jan. 1985, and initiated as a result of a critical thinkii:ig workshop held in California this past August. Romano and six faculty members attended.
Dr. Joseph Romano, vice presidentof academic affairs (photo by Chris Corcoran) Together, he and Biller oversee student When Biller came to Cabrini in Jan. advising and lend a hand to the advisers 1985, she replaced Romano as academic whenever necessary. Regarding the stu- dean. Now the instructional departments dent community, Romano splits the work- come under her jurisdiction, financial aid load with Biller for such functions as reports to the Business Office and James congratulating Dean's List students at con- Fitzsimmons, dean of students, is in charge vocation or conferring with a student who of the athletic department. has slipped to a grade point average of 2.0 "It's been a godsend," Romano said. or below. He works with the freshmen and "Now, I have a real sense of planning. We juniors, Biller with the sophomores and have a wonderful team here, with Mary seniors. Rau, Biller's secretary, Zita, Dr. Biller and Other people with whom he works are myself. The academic office is in good shape those committed to another of his projects, in terms of getting the job done and laying the Enrollment Management Team. Cre- plans down," he said. "My life is a lot ated ten years ago, the team encourages easier." the admissions office in increasing admisRomano was a professor of philosophy sions. and the department chairperson at In fact, the admissions office is one of Cabrini for 18 years before moving to his three departments which Romano superadministrative role. vises. He also heads the continuing educa"When I taught a course," he said, "there tion department and the library. was immediate gratification. When the bell In addition, Romano chairs seven com- rang, I would know whether or not it was a mittees, among them, the Master Plangood class. With this position, it was one of ning Committee, the Academic Council the biggest adjustments that I had to and the committee on scholarships and make. I may work my head off on somefinancial aid. thing and not know if it's going to work for Perhaps one of his most demanding two years!" responsibilities took place when, from fall "But," he said, "once I got used to that, 1979 until Jan. 1985, Romano was simulmy life got better." taneously, academic dean and vice-presiRomano admitted that he favors his curdent of academic affairs. Not only was he rent position. "I can't wait to get here in the accountable for all of the above duties, but morning because there are challenges and -alsofor the instructional departments, the it's exciting. No two days are exactly alike." financial aid office and Cabrini's interHe is also proud of his involvement with collegiate athletics. . changes that have occurred at Cabrini. According to Romano, the amount of For example, he assisted in the college's pressure was tremendous. "It was transition from all-women to a co-educaridiculous. It was just too much," he said. tional student community. Between 1970 "It got to a point where I couldn't do any job and 1971, when he chaired the then Counreally well. It was solving immediate probcil of Student Affairs, the idea was prolems with no time to think. It was putting posed. Romano polled the faculty, adminout a fire here and helping somebody istration and students and t\}e majority there," he said. "overwhelmingly supported it," he said.
'He's the heart and soul of Cabrini.' -John Dzik, director of athletics Romano was gratified when the program was approved. "It was a special feeling for me when we had our first graduates two years ago; graduates with a master's degree from Cabrini!" "Youhave to be patient for the rewards to come in, some things don't work," he said. "Sometimes I'm not the most patient person in the world, and I have to remind myself that there's no instant gratification." He is further impressed with the fact that Cabrini has had nine new buildings within the last seven years. "I get upset when people emphasize our smallness," Romano said. "Cabrini is part of an organization with 95 institutions all over the world which includes hospitals, social agencies and schools." Romano would like to someday see the addition of two more campus buildings. He'd like to see a science building added with each floor dedicated to a different field - biology, chemistry, computer science and psychology and a sports complex, with an indoor track and swimming pool. Such dedication brings admiration from others. "He's a lel'\der who is very much in favor of us being the best academic college," Carter Craigie, professor, English and commu,nications department, said. "He's positive about the students," Mary Helen Mapes, counselor and¡ psychology lecturer, said. "He makes you feel comfortable." "He's the heart and soul of Cabrini," John Dzik, athletic director, said.