friday, sept. 29, 1989
cabrini college, radnor, pa 19087
vol. xxxvi, no. 3
Accomplished leader leaves masters program by Kevin George Dr. Ruth Sower,oneofCabrini'sfaculty responsible for making the college a leader in teacher education, has left her position as the head of the masters of education department. On Friday, Sept. 22, after 12 years of service, Sower bade farewell to her fellow faculty members and grateful students. The unanimous feeling among her constituents is one of sorrow that she is leaving, but gratitude for having worked with her. "Without Ruth Sower there would be no mal$ters program,'' said Dr. Joseph Romano, who along with Sower and others brought the first and only post-graduate program to Cabrini back in 1985. From a modest beginning of 12 students, the masters of education program has grown to 160,a fact many attribute to Sower's dedication to education. Dr. Mary Ann Biller, vice president of academic affairs, attributed the '' glowing reviews'' the education department has received from independent evaluators in the past '' to Dr. Sower's professional dedication." .. We will certainly miss her contributions, but we do support her in going on to bigger things," Dr. Biller said. Dr. Sower will be bringing her expertise to the correctional facilities across Pennsylvania where she will serve as adviser to the teachers of special education. Going into special education won't be new territory for Dr. Sower. Much of her career has focused on special education. Before serving as the graduate program coordinator and on the faculty, she spent many years "in the trenches'' of special education with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit. ''This will sort of bring me back to my roots,•' So~er said about her ne\\ position with the state department of education. """"'-~~:_ ..ramfascinated with opportunties and chaTienges that are going to be opening in the correctional facilities as far as education goes," Sower said when asked why she was leaving Cabrini.
"Unfortunately, we are incarcerating younger and younger people all the time," she said. Working with young people won't be new to Sower either. Aside from her work in research and theory of special education, Dr. Sower started a sunday school program at Cabrini's Children School that taught mentally handicapped children in the neighborhood how to behave and worship during religious services. It was experiences like those that Dr. Sower will remember most from her days on campus. ''The things I enjoyed most were those activities where students and I were mutually involved and learning," she said while sitting in her comfortable home only a few doors away from Cabrini on Upper Gulph Road. "We all learned a great deal about how children learn," She recalled. Twice Dr. Sower and a group of students spent time in Arizona teaching children on a Navajo .Indian reservation. In these trips Dr. Sower said she dido 't lecture and the students didn't study but. "surely, it was the best of learning experiences for all of us. Those students who didn't go to Arizona, still benefiued from Dr. Sower's "mutual learning" style. Graduate student, Annette Gallagher, remembers going to Don Guanella, a school for mentally retarded children, on Tuesday nights while she took Dr. Sower's "Exceptional Person" class. "We got experience working directuly with the kids," Gallagher remebered. ''Even the regular classes were special becuase she would bring :n guest speakers often. Some of Dr. Sower's own students got a chance to do some guest speaking of their own, Dr. Biller remembers. On two occasions. a group of Dr. Sower's students addressed a gathering of statewide special education teachers in Harrisburg, Dr. Biller said, which, she added, wa,; the first time teacherswerelecturedby studentson a state level. If sucess of a teacher's students is an indicator of their accomplishments, then Dr. Sower's ability to educate is
Special interest dorms: what's so special? by Karen Dumorney
Prior to coming to Cabrini College, dean of students, Robert Bonfiglio thought of creatmg an environment that made students more responsible in where they lived to downplay the role of the administrators. The thought he had in mind was special interest resident housing. This housing is designed for a diverse group of mature students who share the same common interest in one aspect or another by dedicating their time to community services and on the same token respect the values and properties of one another. It is a new opportunity, according to Bonfiglio that can be an educational experience in its own right to maximize the learning experience of living in resident halls. Interested students had to put together a proposal on what they had to do and try to emphasize the programmatic aspect of how they were to live together. In addition to be considered, they could not have violated any policies. Students, like Jeff Foley, junior, is
rofessors concernedabout npreparedstudents
among one of the students residing in the special interest hall at House 7 which was converted into an all males dorm this fall. Foley said, '' It 's a good idea, and it shows the potential to be good and become a tradition." Colin Coakley, senior, another student who resides at House 7 thought that it was not only a good idea but also a place where people were enthusiastic and respected one another. He said that the upperclassmen were fed up with what was going on on campus and elsewhere and that they felt that something had to be done. Coakley's only concern is being able to live up to their promise. He feels that much will be expected of them and hope they can live up to their agreement. Lou Monaco, resident assistant of House 7, thought that it will be a fun-filled experience and at the same time challenging. He said by living in this house his job will
A recent Carnegie Commission report foWldthat most professors do not find tudents prepared for college. However, this doesn't seem to be the opinion of rofessorsin regardto mostof their students.Faculty acrossthe nation and at Cabrinithi way to strengthen collegeeducationis by empbuizing a broad liberal education. Are collegestudents underprepared?The Carnegie Study found that ~thirds o aculty members thought colJeges and universities were spendingtoo much time an y teaching students what they should have learned before entering college. Some survey's findings; provided evidence that institutions of higher-education trenghten their undergraduate curricnlums. However, professors at Cabrini said that colleges are teaching remedial courses tudents are arriving at college and they are forced to take 101 coW"Ses,which for s repetition of material they learned in high school. Some professors are not sure w ir students learned before coming to their class. but they said that the majority asonably prepared. thus not reducingthe standards of that particular professor. Dr. Anbur Youngsupervises programssuch as General Studies and Act 101. '• Act 10l preparesstudentswho areunderprepared,•• be said. '''l'bese ·types of ork on the students• skillsand hoWto use study time effectively. They teach students moreoftheirown choices.Ih stlllkot failsa test, becannot say.'Jt wasthetcacber'
more Dorms on page 12
more Students on page 1
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educate the.studentto shift lhe••blameontobitnself•ifbefails a are'10W~ to have moreof".asense of'~poasibility.''
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Inside perspectives .. 2, 3, 4 news ........5, 6, 11, 12 features .... 7, 8, 9, 10 sports
13,14,15,16
well documented. According to Biller, Cabrini is second in the state among private institutions in the numberof students receiving their state teaching certificates. She'll need all the "efficiency" and "dedication" that her constituents credit her in her new postilion. As Education Advisor, Dr. Sower will be in charge of 300 teachers in 17 correctional facilities and 9 youth detention centers across the commonwealth. Were she goes with her newposition no one could possibly know, not even Dr. Sower. "Teaching is the ultimate learning experience. Each
Slam-Dunkl
Teddy Bears
Hoop Camp
bring security
already?
(see page 10)
(see page 14)