Regis University School of Humanities & Social Sciences Spring '14 Newsletter

School of Humanities & Social Sciences

Newsletter SPRING 2014

Letter from the Dean Winter is still with us, but spring is sneaking around the corner. The days are longer, with warmer weather between storms. We hope you are finding more light in your life, warmer experiences, and a sense of wonder about new opportunities and potential adventures.

There have a number of changes in CPS. We are happy to welcome Janet Houser, the current academic dean for RueckertHartman College for Health Professions, as our interim academic dean.

The MA symposium has moved from a presentation model to a round table model, and everyone is invited. We are starting a Student Advisory Council (please email erobyn@regis.edu if you are interested in joining). Our honor society is up and running and the first induction ceremony was held on Sunday, March 30th. We are looking forward to a symposium on school violence, our annual CSI Conference, the annual Trap Shootout fundraiser, and many more events.

We are also talking about innovation and higher education, and invite you to join us by sharing your thoughts on our Innovation Safe Zone board in the SHSS lobby. Let us know your best hopes and dreams for SHSS and Regis.

What are your thoughts about higher education and learning as we move to a new and adventurous future? I have included a video produced by Emily Eifler to get you thinking.

Enjoy the second article in our series on water, the book reviews, and our matching game, and let us know what else you would like to read in this newsletter.

Here is a “teaser� to get you started, created and produced by Emily Eifler.

We wish you an exciting and inspiring springtime and look forward to your ideas and thoughts.

Elisa Robyn Dean, School of Humanities & Social Sciences

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Event Calendar

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CPS Commencement at 10:00 a.m.

SHSS and Friends Workday at Foodbank of the Rockies.

Contact Christi (cgrebenc@regis.edu) to join us for fun and worthwhile work

Annual Symposium for the Prevention of School Violence

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Regis University, College of Professional Studies, School of Education and the Foundation for the Prevention of School Violence North Denver (Lowell) Campus

The School of Humanities and Social Science’s Second Annual Shootout To benefit the Thin Blue Line Scholarship Fund 8 a.m., Colorado Clays Shooting Park, Brighton

WC3: Wine, Cheese, Chocolate, and Conversation 4 p.m., North Denver (Lowell) Campus, Clarke Hall Atrium

Poetry in Motion: A Philosophical Reflection on Water

Janet L. Rumfelt, Ph.D.

A philosopher, theologian, and Buddhist walk into a bar and order a glass of water. That sounds like the beginning of a good joke, but actually, it’s my way of inviting you in to read this reflection on water, which I promise will take us back to the philosopher, theologian, and Buddhist, even if they don’t actually walk into a bar.

Many of the properties of water have been used to teach philosophy and theology. One such property is reflection. Images are produced from water when waves bounce back from the surface to the object (or objects). But images themselves are not a simple matter. Both religion and philosophy are concerned with the seductive power of images.

The Hebrew Bible includes a proscription against idolatry (i.e., fashioning an image of God). The rationale is likely a concern that people will mistake the idol for the thing itself. In Greek mythology, Narcissus, who famously fell in love with his own image after he saw his reflection in a body of water, serves as a cautionary tale for those who might be similarly tempted.

Water also has depth. According to the National Oceanic Atmospheric administration, “more than 95 percent of the underwater world is unexplored.” That is significant given 71 percent of the earth’s surface is covered by the ocean. The Hebrew Bible pays special attention to this quality of water (mayim in Hebrew) in several places. Genesis 1.2 notes darkness covered the “surface of the deep” at the onset of creation. The flood is said to begin when “the fountains of the great deep burst apart” (Genesis 7.11). The biblical text goes on to play with this quality of depth, or to use Lakoff and Johnson’s description, it maps the experience of deep waters on to the human psyche. Proverbs 20.5 (which dispenses practical advice for living) states, “the designs [or purposes] in a man’s mind [or heart] are deep waters, But a man of understanding can draw them out.”

This aphorism, written thousands of years before Freud’s theory of the unconscious, uses the metaphor of water to help us comprehend the depths of the human psyche. It reminds us our purposes and desires are not transparent; it takes effort for them to be made manifest.

The last metaphor for water comes from the Tao Te Ching. Tradition states its contents are attributed to Lao-Tzu, or “Old Master,” who lived during the 6th century B.C.E. Like the first metaphor, it is also drawn from water’s fluidity, though it maps the metaphor on to a different conceptual domain. “Nothing in the world is softer or weaker than water.

Yet nothing is better at overcoming the hard and strong. This is because nothing can replace it. That the weak overcomes the strong. And the soft overcomes the hard.”

The legend of how Lao-Tzu came to write the Tao Te Ching includes the following story: “He [Lao-Tzu] learnt how quite soft water, by attrition, over the years, will grind strong rocks away. In other words, that hardness must lose the day.” True strength is not measured by brawn, but rather by how gentle and open we are. As water wears down the hard rock, so gentleness and openness heal pain, suffering, and injury, both our own and others. The perpetual motion of water reminds us life is impermanent, so we need to attend to and enjoy what we have in the here and now and to gently let it go when the time comes.

So, what do we learn from the metaphors of water? Water as fluidity reminds us that life is impermanent and this moment is precious and needs our attention. Water as depth reminds us that our psyches are complex and plumbing their depths takes time and understanding. Water as a softness that overcomes hardness reminds us to be gentle with ourselves and others and that this softness will overcome the roughness in life.

These metaphors aren’t simply static descriptions of reality; rather, they construct a way of being in the world. They are poetry in motion. Maybe the philosopher, the theologian, and the Buddhist didn’t walk into a bar and order a glass of water, but maybe they should have.

Building Bridges

by Franklin Medford

Most people are aware that CDOT is widening Route 36 (also known as the Boulder Turnpike). Every day I travel to Regis on the road from Louisville to the Federal exit, I am amazed at the highway’s transformation and road engineers’ brilliant designs.

What has been impressive is the replacement of three bridges. A new bridge takes months to be constructed and when completed the old one, after decades of use, disappears over a weekend.

Lately, I have been thinking there is an analogy to what we are attempting to accomplish at Regis: building bridges from our school to Regis College. Conversations have been going on for a long time, and two of our faculty, Dr. Roberta Mancuso and Dr. Janet Rumfelt, teach in the College. Recently several concrete areas of collaborative cooperation began taking place. Dr. Marty McGovern (SHSS) and Dr. David Hicks (Regis College) submitted a proposal to create “The Mile-High MFA: A Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing.” The proposal has been approved by both the CPS Academic Council and Regis University APPC. The MFA will be a marvelous opportunity for both CPS and Regis College students and will showcase our university.

A smaller example comes from the liberal arts department. My colleague Dr. Janet Rumfelt and I are committed to building a strong M.A. degree program. We have made great progress redeveloping the religious studies specialization. Our next focus is on philosophy. In order to create a first-rate philosophy program, Dr. Ted Zenzinger, chair of the philosophy department in Regis College, has accepted the position of lead faculty. Ted has taught CPS courses since 1995, and his valuable leadership will make a significant contribution.

Long after Route 36 is completed we will continue to design and build ways for communication and collaboration with the hope Regis University will be stronger and will become one of the premier schools in the world.

regis.edu/strategicplanning

Spring is coming; at least I think it is

By Sr. Peg Maloney

Despite what the Midwesterners and East Coast folks tell you about the weather, I’m sure it’s almost time for April showers and May flowers!

The east coast is buried in snow, and our weather changes daily, as do the road conditions. But Todd Helton retired, the Broncos came in second in the Superbowl, and Lindsey Vonn’s knee injury kept her out of the Winter Olympics. So, when do we see some signs of spring? It’s coming, I promise!

The need for volumes of paper and gigabytes given to describing, discussing, modifying, condensing and summarizing Regis’ new strategic plan may actually be diminishing. It appears the dynamic vision and compelling mission of Regis University will carry on quite successfully as we make adjustments for a new era, an ever changing world and perhaps, a bigger galaxy.

Fortunately, we have Dr. Janet Hauser to serve as our interim dean. What an enormous blessing. I know this because Janet was educated by the Sisters of Mercy (my religious community) and she now lives very intentionally immersed in the Ignatian story and operates deliberately out of the values and vision of Jesuit education.

No matter how gloomy February was, March is here and that means it’s time for Christians to journey into Lent. Lent used to be identified as those 40 days before Holy Week/Easter, which was responsible for all the moaning and groaning about penance, fasting and ashes. I am happy to report all those dreadful images of Lent have been moved aside. This is a time for celebrating and renewing. The opening prayer for the Mass on Ash Wednesday said, “You give us this joyful season in order to celebrate the Paschal Mystery with minds and hearts renewed.” It’s not a time to run a competition of misery, trying to “give up” more than I did last year. Rather, it’s a time to let God show how much can be done in each person’s life, if we practice getting out of the way.

Spring is a time for renewal in our university, in our faith communities, in our friendships and our own personal lives. I hope you find some time, space and quiet to consider how you might let renewal into your life this spring.

What is on your nightstand?

Student Work Spotlight Meg Griffitts is studying creative writing at Regis University with an emphasis

on poetry and personal essay. Her work has appeared in Evening Will Come and The Colorado Independent. In her free time she enjoys yoga, cooking, and listening to vinyl. She currently resides in Aurora, CO with her husband and two cats.

50 miles - Fire

Divorce

Bootcamp Bible

Intro

Click the icon to listen

Two Books Reviewed by Don Lindley Wilson

by A. Scott Berg Scott Berg, author of “Max Perkins: Editor of Genius” (1978) and the Pulitzer Prize winning “Lindberg” (1998) has added to his distinguished writing career an exceptional biography on the life and ascendance to political prominence of Woodrow Wilson, America’s only academe president. Berg’s book is an expose’ of this remarkable American whose resume includes student and then president of Princeton University, a brief period as governor of New Jersey, and lastly, President of the United States. His name will forever be remembered as the president who kept the U.S. out of WWI during his first term, and during his second term, became the force behind the League of Nations, later replaced by the United Nations following WWII, October 24, 1945.

Historians have claimed Wilson’s devoted support of his “League,” and the importance of the U.S. becoming a member, resulted in him suffering a stroke October 2, 1919, which left him paralyzed on his left side, and moderately incapacitated throughout the last year of his presidency. Some have suggested this stroke left his wife Edith “President Pro Temp” for the remainder of her husband’s last term. Berg thoroughly addresses the life of Woodrow Wilson as a respected college student, an honored university president, and why, because of these tributes, the voting public, and the political bosses of his party, propelled him into the U. S. Presidency. Reading Berg’s “Wilson” will leave you wanting to read more about this remarkable man, and of the men and women who lived during this interesting time in our history.

The Anatomy of Evil

By Michael H. Stone For those interested in the darker side of human behavior, who can’t sleep at night (or don’t want to) and who have longed to understand what causes those within our midst to prey on others, Michael Stone’s “The Anatomy of Evil” is the book you have been waiting for. It comes highly recommended by your resident criminologist.

Stone constructed a gradation of evil scale that will answer that enduring question that has always nagged at you: why the heinous crimes of Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy, and other high-profile killers?

The last thing I want is to ruin this incredible read for you, but I can tell you these aberrant behaviors have to do with a lack of human emotions, and the inability to empathize with others. Based on biographies of more than 600 violent criminals, Stone employs common human emotional reactions to explain the concepts and realities of evil. You will learn the human behaviors that narcissism, self-centeredness, aggression, and the need for power over others play in these offenders’ crimes. Indeed, Virgil’s Dante’s Inferno is brought to life by Stone, a revival you will not want to miss. If you don’t want to invest, I will loan you my copy.

Mission Updates Current Faculty

Denver-area runner to complete 50 marathons in 2014 as fundraiser for the Alzheimer’s Association To celebrate turning 50 years old in 2014, Denver-based entrepreneur and marathoner David D. Knapp, Ph.D. will run 50 full marathons during the 2014 calendar year as a fundraiser for the Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Dr. Knapp – who lost his mother to Alzheimer’s in 2001 – is hoping to raise at least $50,000 during the year-long marathon quest to help find a cure for the disease, which currently affects more than 5 million Americans. Barring a medical breakthrough to prevent, slow, or stop the disease, that number will nearly triple by the year 2050 due to this nation’s aging population.

“Watching Mom deteriorate as the disease progressed was undoubtedly the most emotionally painful experience of my life,” recalls Dr. Knapp. “But watching the physical, mental, and emotional toll it took on my father as he tried to care for her was a close second. So the challenge of running 50 marathons in one year will pale in comparison to what Dad went through as her caregiver.”

Dr. Knapp is no stranger to marathon challenges. In 2004, he ran 40 marathons during the calendar year to celebrate turning 40 years old. So running 50 to celebrate turning 50 in 2014 was a natural progression.

“To be honest, the 2004 marathon quest was a bit selfish – I did it for me, simply as a way to prove to myself that I was still fit at 40,” states Dr. Knapp. “So I want to complete this year’s quest to help others – the individuals who are dealing with this terrible disease, as well as their family members who are facing the difficult and heart-wrenching experience that my family went through with Mom.” Dr. Knapp already is accepting donations at http://act.alz.org/goto/DavidKnapp. Also, he is looking for corporate sponsors to help offset the tremendous costs involved in registering for and traveling to races.

Contact david@marathonleadership.org for more information.

Congratulations

Match the Volunteer Activity

Anna Floyd, Megan Maes, Christi Grebenc, Roberta Mancuso and Melissa Piper

Don Lindley

Janet Rumfelt

Roberta Mancuso (pictured on right) and friend, Rachel

to Candice Ransom, winner of a Starbucks gift card.

Thank you Candice and all of the December graduates for submitting your email addresses. SHSS looks forward to staying in touch with you!

Elisa Robyn

School of Humanities and Social Sciences and CPS Friends

Can you match the volunteer activities? All correct entries will be entered into a drawing for a Starbucks gift card! Send your entry to Christi Grebenc at cgrebenc@regis.edu.

From the Desk of

1) A hand-carved spoon completes Megan’s tea set trio. When Megan traveled to East Africa in spring 2013, with the Masters of Nonprofit Management (MNM) Service Oriented Field Experience (SOFE), she met the women who made this spoon and watched them carve. Megan describes this spoon as her “favorite souvenir,” purchased from an open air market in Tanzania.

2) Each pin in the cork board map, which hangs on Megan’s wall, designates SOFE trips from years past. Denver, Navajo Nation, Hawaii, Alaska, South Africa, Belize, Peru, Ireland, East Africa, and Mexico are all places where MNM students have traveled.

Megan has planned many SOFE trips, participated in the East African SOFE as an administrator, and attended the Denver SOFE as an MNM student.

3) The four pictures hanging on Megan’s wall signify upcoming SOFEs. The top left photo is from the East Africa SOFE and is the driveway of World Vision’s headquarters in Tanzania.

The Navajo Nation SOFE is pictured on the top right and shows students participating in a reflective hike through Canyon de Chelly. A SOFE student enjoying the view from Machu Picchu in Peru is pictured on the bottom right.

The bottom left photo is from the Denver SOFE and is the quote, “A persons true wealth is the good he or she does in the world,” which hanging in the SAME Café.

Would you like to know more about SOFE’s?

Visit www.regis.edu/SOFE

Megan Maes

4) If you are fortunate enough to know Megan, you know family is a big part of her life. Holding a prominent position on Megan’s desk are pictures of her parents, sister, grandmother and nephew, Jace.

5) These philodendron plants were once in Claver Hall and inherited from the MNM Department’s administrative assistant prior to Megan, Mary Flail’s, desk. They survived the move to Clarke Hall in December 2012 and are thriving under Megan’s watchful eye.

6) Sitting beside Megan’s water kettle is a “ball in cage” toy. At first look it may appear to be an abstract sculpture, but this Christmas gift, from Megan’s boyfriend Kevin is far more.

Kevin meticulously hand-carved this toy for Megan from a solid block of bass wood. When you pass by Megan’s desk, take a look at it.

Careful though, it is magnetic in a therapeutic sense and is hard to put down!

School of Humanities & Social Sciences