In Brief

Marymount Community Celebrates R.S.H.M. Heritage

WFUV Spotlights Literacy On Campus and On the Air

Benedict T. Harter, Former Dean, Dies at 85

Success Starts with Attitude, Says Chicken Soup Author

Marymount Community Celebrates R.S.H.M. Heritage
On March 3, members of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (R.S.H.M.) at Marymount College of Fordham University sponsored a luncheon to commemorate the 154th anniversary of their religious community, which was founded in 1849 by the Rev. Jean Gailhac in Beziers, France.

The annual Gailhac Luncheon was instituted eight years ago as a way to educate the Marymount community about the origins of the R.S.H.M. order and how it contributes to the unique spirit that defines the college. Approximately 60 guests, including administrators, faculty members and students, attended.

During the luncheon, Sister Pierre Dullaghan, R.S.H.M., who lives and works in the Mother House community in Beziers, spoke about the founding of the religious community, its early challenges and its mission, “that all may have life.” She called Father Gailhac, for whom a campus residence hall is named, “a man full of enthusiasm, sparked by an intense love of God and for others.” She characterized the six women who comprised the first R.S.H.M. as “the spark of the fire” that “nourished the gift bestowed on Father Gailhac.” The women ran an orphanage and a boarding school, among other vocations.

WFUV Spotlights Literacy On Campus and On the Air
WFUV put the spotlight on adult literacy in a series of programs last month that culminated with a public forum in the Flom Auditorium of the William D. Walsh Library on March 19.

The project, titled “Start Making Sense,” was undertaken to raise public awareness about the challenges that accompany learning a language as an adult and to educate the community-at-large about the political and bureaucratic realities that sometimes impede the learning process. Peabody Award-winning producer Karen Michel hosted a one-hour documentary and created five feature-length segments about the meanings and promotions of literacy in the New York area. The documentary features the Grammy Award-winning Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, which reaches out to adults who don’t know how to read English, and an upstate New York literacy training program that inspires a group of troubled women to overcome their reading difficulties.

The project was a team effort that included contributions from WFUV's Assistant News Director George Bodarky and Fordham University students who work in the newsroom, said Julianne Welby, WFUV news director and executive producer of “Start Making Sense.”

“We're really pleased we could focus on a topic that's relevant in some way to all of WFUV's listeners and invite them to join in the project, whether it was our public forum at Rose Hill or discussions on the bulletin boards at wfuv.org,” said Ralph Jennings, WFUV’s general manager. “Our goal was not only to broadcast to the community, but to serve it.”

The programs are permanently accessible on WFUV's Web site, www.wfuv.org, in the archive under the features section. WFUV will offer “Start Making Sense,” the documentary and features, to other public radio stations nationwide, free of charge. The project was made possible by a generous grant from the Verizon Foundation.

Pictured at the forum are (from left to right) Mary Hercus-Rowe, Department of Curriculum and Teaching, Teachers College, Columbia University; Ira Yankwitt, director, Adult Literacy Services, Literacy Assistance Center; Luvenia Ellison, who began literacy training as an adult; Kate Hymes, director, Hudson Valley/Catskill Partnership, Adult Education Staff; and George Bodarky, WFUV assistant news director and Cityscape host.

Photo: Bruce Gilbert

Benedict T. Harter, Former Dean, Dies at 85
Benedict T. Harter (CBA ’39), who served as dean of Fordham Business Schools from 1979 until 1983, died on March 4. He was 85.

After graduating from Fordham in 1939, Harter began a career in sales. In early 1941, he was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy. He was later assigned to the U.S. Naval Academy as accounting officer for the command and as financial adviser to the midshipmen. He left the service as a lieutenant commander.

After finishing law school at Georgetown University in 1949, Harter worked for several large corporations and eventually settled at Becton Dickinson & Company, a medical supply manufacturer. He started there as controller and in 1979 retired as senior vice president for administration and chief financial officer. During his tenure, the company’s value grew from $40 million to more than $800 million.

A week after retiring, Harter was summoned by then Fordham president the Rev. James Finlay, S.J., to head Fordham Business Schools, a post that he held for four years. Since then, Harter returned to Fordham every May to present the Dean Harter Award to the undergraduate student-athlete at Fordham Business with the highest academic standing.

Harter is survived by his wife of 59 years, Anna Mae; six children, including sons Tom (FCO ’71) and Richard (LAW ’81); 15 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

WFUV Students Busy Covering the War

WFUV is keeping listeners up-to-date on important developments during the war in Iraq, thanks in large part to the dedication and hard work of Fordham students on the newsroom staff.

Since the war began on March 19, students have been assisting News Director Julianne Welby and Assistant News Director George Bodarky in bringing information to listeners live. Students have contributed several follow-up stories related to the war, including a story featuring Fordham Urban Studies Program Director Mark Naison, Ph.D., comparing war protests of the Vietnam era to contemporary examples. The student news staff also covered a March 27 demonstration at Rockefeller Center and has offered political insight on the war by interviewing local political leaders such as Congressional Representatives Joseph Crowley, Nita Lowey and Rush Holt; New York City Council Speaker Gifford Miller; and New York Assemblyman Alexander Gromack.

In addition to staffing WFUV's general news desk, Fordham students have contributed stories about wartime history, upgraded security and artistic responses to the war—all of which has been incorporated into the station’s public affairs programming.

Pictured above: Sophomore Jen Pulsone is one of the students delivering live newscasts during wartime on the air at WFUV 90.7 FM.

Success Starts with Attitude, Says Chicken Soup Author

Fordham students were recently reminded of the importance of attitude and its effect on the success of an individual and an organization during an interactive, motivational lecture presented by James Malinchak, contributing author and associate editor for Chicken Soup for the College Soul (Health Communications, 1999).

“How many of you want to be more successful, be a better leader, and land a great job? The secret is in your attitude,” said Malinchak during the March 12 lecture sponsored by Student Activities and Career Placement. “Elevate your attitude to elevate a successful future. Many people in leadership positions don’t reach their full potential because they have not developed a strong positive mental attitude. Your attitude will reflect the attitude of your organization.”

Stressing positive ways of thinking, Malinchak presented powerful yet simple leadership strategies such as being open to new learning experiences, not making excuses, developing a positive attitude, delegating responsibility, creating enthusiasm, showing respect to receive respect, and setting goals.

“Enthusiasm is crucial to your success,” said Malinchak to the audience gathered in the McGinley Center Ballroom. “It must begin with you before it can spread to others. Enthusiasm is contagious, so develop a passion for the project on which you are working. Soon you will notice the same passion spreading to others.”

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