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Fall 2009

U N I V E R S I T Y O F

MAGAZINE

N I V E R S I T Y O F
A G A Z I N E
UN I V ER S I T Y O F
MAGAZINE
UNIVERSITY
MAGAZINE

Going Green
Office of the Chancellor

Dear Readers:
We begin this new academic year with great pride in the University and optimism for the days that lie ahead. Despite
the nation’s continuing economic troubles, DU has remained strong and is opening the year with the largest and most
capable class of incoming first-year students we have seen in many years. More than 1,200 new first-year, first-time
undergraduates are expected to arrive, and they will bring with them extraordinary academic credentials, with nearly
half ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school class. The proportion of domestic minority students among
the entering class will reach a new high of 18 percent, and more than 5 percent will be from countries other than the
United States.
Enrollments among our graduate and professional schools are expected to be up as well, and persistence among
continuing students remains strong. All together, anticipated enrollment this fall of undergraduates, graduate students
and “pre-collegiate” students at DU (students in the English Language Center and kids in the Fisher and Ricks centers)
is about 12,000—our largest enrollment since the post-World War II era.
We’ll have a few more students than we had planned for, but I am very pleased with these results. We have remained
competitive—even as an expensive private institution in a very bad economy—because of the clear value of the student
experience at DU. Although we have grown to be a doctoral-level research university of national distinction, we have
held on to our student focus. Faculty members at DU are nationally and internationally competitive scholars, but our
professional lives still revolve around our students and the quality of their experience at the University. Our students
are priority No. 1, and that can be unusual among universities these days.
We are constantly making choices about how to concentrate our resources in a manner that builds the quality of our
educational programs as defined by outcomes for students: the knowledge and abilities they gain, and their intellectual
and personal growth. In recent years we added the elements of the undergraduate Marsico Initiative—at an annual
cost of more than $4.5 million—and developed the Cherrington Global Scholars study-abroad program at a cost that
exceeds $10 million per year. We developed dual-degree programs that continue undergraduate financial aid through a
fifth year and a master’s degree. We’ve made major investments in our programs for students who are extraordinarily
talented athletes, artists or musicians. For graduate students, we’ve added a host of new faculty members and programs
in law, business, international studies, social work, education, professional psychology and the arts and sciences, and
we’ve expanded our research capabilities. DU is an innovative and entrepreneurial institution, and we are continually
generating ideas and creating programs in search of academic quality for our students.
The other side of the value proposition is the cost to students and their families. We work hard to make DU affordable
for a broad range of students through financial aid. More than three-quarters of our students receive some measure of
financial aid that comes from both internal and external sources. External sources include federal and state funds as well
as support from foundations. Internal sources include discounted tuition, scholarships supported by our endowment,
and new scholarship gifts to the University. We make a great effort to raise money every year, with the bulk of these
funds providing financial aid for students or financial support for faculty. Over the past three years, we’ve been able to
substantially increase our financial aid funds for new and continuing students, and this year we also increased our fund
for emergency financial aid. Access to the DU experience for capable students is broadening, even in a tight economy.
I am convinced we are doing well because we are focused on the value of what we provide for our students, and
because we work hard to make that value affordable for them and their families. As an institution, we are committed
to our students’ success. In turn, we are blessed with alumni who are committed to the success of the University. That’s
how higher education really should work.

Office of the Chancellor


Mary Reed Building | 2199 S. University Blvd. | Denver, CO 80208 | 303.871.2111 | Fax 303.871.4101 | www.du.edu/chancellor
2 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009
Contents
Features

26 Going Green
DU plans for carbon neutrality by 2050.
By Chase Squires

30 The Rising Cost of College


Ever-expanding costs are pricing college out of the reach of many. At DU,
administrators are working to change that equation.
By Jan Thomas

36 Excellence on Ice
DU celebrates 60 years of Pioneers hockey.
By Greg Glasgow

40 Keeping the Faith


Baptist preacher Terrance Carroll brings passion and humility to his
“other” job—Colorado’s Speaker of the House.
By Richard Chapman

Departments

44 Editor’s Note
45 Letters
47 DU Update
08 News  Community garden
10 Research  Lincoln’s legacy
14 Q&A  Enrollment strategies
17 People Chef Angelo Camillo
19 Essay Remembering Stuart James
20 Views  Mount Evans observatory
23 History  Flu of 1918
24 Arts  Chinese painter
45 Alumni Connections
Online only at www.du.edu/magazine:
Academics Studying the drug war
Sports Club Taekwondo
On the cover: Leaf from a tulip poplar tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), a specimen in DU’s Alter
Arboretum. DU has announced a comprehensive plan to green its campus; read the story on
page 26. Photo illustration by Wayne Armstrong.
This page: Colorado Speaker of the House and DU alumnus Terrance Carroll in the state
Capitol; read the story on page 40. Photo by Wayne Armstrong.
University of Denver Magazine Update 3
U N I V E R S I T Y O F

Editor’s Note
MAGAZINE

w w w. d u . e d u / m a g a z i n e
U N I V E R S I T Y O F
Volume 10, Number 1
M A G A Z I N E
UN I V ER S I T Y O F
MPublisher
AGAZINE
UNIVERSITY OF
Did our bright green cover catch your attention? Carol Farnsworth
MAGAZINE
Good. DU has some big sustainability plans afoot,
Managing Editor
and you should know about them (read the story on Chelsey Baker-Hauck (BA ’96)
page 26).
Assistant Managing Editor
While it’s cutting its carbon footprint, DU Greg Glasgow
also is aggressively cutting expenses to try to keep
Associate Editor
tuition prices manageable for students (read more Tamara Chapman
on page 30). We’ve tightened our belts here at the
Editor
magazine, and even though our unit cost is more Kathryn Mayer (BA ’07)
than 25 percent lower than that of the average
Editorial Assistants
college magazine, we need to trim expenses wherever Laura Hathaway (’10)
Kyle Schettler
Craig Korn

possible.
That doesn’t mean we plan to stop publishing Staff Writer
Richard Chapman
the magazine. We included a survey with our summer issue, and nearly 100
percent of our respondents reported that the University of Denver Magazine Art Director
Craig Korn, VeggieGraphics
is the No. 1 way they keep up with DU. They also said it’s important that
they continue to receive the magazine, and that they prefer to receive it in a Contributors
Wayne Armstrong • Jim Berscheidt • Janalee
printed format.
Card Chmel (MLS ’97) • Steve Fisher • Kristal
If you are one of those who don’t mind reading the magazine online, Griffith • Jeff Haessler • John Kloeckner •
Doug McPherson • Steve Schader • Nathan
please e-mail us at du-magazine@du.edu to unsubscribe from the print
Solheim • Jack Sommars • Chase Squires •
edition. Every dollar we save ultimately will benefit our students. Samantha Stewart (BA ’08) • Jan Thomas
(BA ’80, MA ’81) • John Trujillo (BSBA ’95) •
Is the University of Denver Magazine a good investment? According to the Margaret Whitt (PhD ’86)
survey results so far, the answer is a resounding “Yes!” Still, we need to hear
Editorial Board
from more of you. If you love the magazine and want to ensure it keeps
Chelsey Baker-Hauck, editorial director •
showing up in your mailbox, or if you think we could do things better or Jim Berscheidt, associate vice chancellor
for university communications •
differently, let us know.
Thomas Douglis (BA ’86) • Carol Farnsworth,
If you still have your summer edition lying around, please complete vice chancellor for university communications •
Jeffrey Howard, executive director of alumni
the survey at the back and mail it to us right away. Or take the five-minute relations • Sarah Satterwhite, senior director
survey online at www.du.edu/magazine. of development/special assistant to the vice
chancellor • Amber Scott (MA ’02) •
Your feedback is important; we rely on it to shape every aspect of the Laura Stevens (BA ’69), director of
magazine. Thank you in advance for sharing your views. parent relations

Printed on 10% PCW recycled paper

The University of Denver Magazine (USPS 022-177) is


published quarterly—fall, winter, spring and summer—by
Chelsey Baker-Hauck the University of Denver, University Communications,
Managing Editor 2199 S. University Blvd., Denver, CO 80208-4816. The
University of Denver (Colorado Seminary) is an Equal
Opportunity Institution. Periodicals postage paid at Denver,
CO. Postmaster: Send address changes to University of
Denver Magazine, University of Denver, University
Advancement, 2190 E. Asbury Ave., Denver, CO 80208-4816.

4 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


U N I V E R S I T Y O F
Letters
MAGAZINE

U N I V E R S I T Y O F
M A G A Z I N E
UN I V ER S I T Y O F
MAGAZINE
UNIVERSITY OF
MAGAZINE

Wild West roundup meeting in Denver, and I was very interested in


I enjoyed “Our Wild West” [summer he said he’d be there. the letter concerning KVDU
2009]. As Wallace Stegner said, “I may not For three hours we that appeared in the sum-
know who I am, but I know where I’m discussed plots, motiva- mer 2009 issue. I was in the
from.” The article “Colorado’s College tions, guns, wine and communications program in
War” was of more than passing interest book sales: “If you want one of my books, 1949–53 when the whole department con-
because my husband is a Mines graduate. get it in hardback; I make three bucks sisted of Noel Jordan and Bob Mott and
It is a fine issue. more.” He was an absolutely great contrib- KVDU was housed in a ramshackle tem-
Carol Savey Abel (BA ’57, MA ’64) utor to our group and a charming guy. His porary building that always threatened to
Golden, Colo. books emphasize the difficulty of doing the collapse with the advent of a thunderstorm.
right thing and the rewards of that strug- Gilbert Fried (attd. 1949–52)
gle—not exactly a universal theme in these Hallandale Beach, Fla.
“Alumni Connections” in the summer times, yet they’re exciting and fun to read.
2009 issue brought back many memo- An alum to be treasured!
ries of my time as a student at DU. I had Gerald Moore (BS ’56) Global connections
spent five years in the USAF Strategic Air Denver I’m a double DU graduate for my BSBA in
Command as a radar navigator on a B-52 marketing and my Master of International
and returned to college in June 1969 to Management. I have since moved back to
finish an engineering degree and MBA. I KVDU story plays on Indonesia, and I’m so excited to hear about
selected DU. First, I want to thank Peter Funt and oth- DU. Thanks to technology, it’s not impos-
Those three years at DU and the tur- ers for constructing the KVDU facility. sible to reconnect with old friends. I even
moil over Vietnam changed my view of Secondly, I want to take strong exception heard about [Daniels College management
the world and politics for life. It made me to Funt’s analysis of the restricted playlist Professor] Dave Hopkins’ recent retire-
more sensitive to the needs of others and [Letters, summer 2009]. ment from friends just one day after his
the impact of our country’s decisions for I had a show on KVDU and was farewell party.
generations to come. I remember sitting on ordered to play only certain songs. I had It’s wonderful to hear the stories of
the lawn in front of the Science Building hoped to use the medium to enrich the alumni still living close to DU, but I think
discussing the events of that time, and ears of my listeners with fresh music you should diversify a bit and do a global
graduating with armbands, not caps and instead of what they could hear plenty of search for DU’s foreign alumni, especially
gowns. Needless to say, as a veteran it was on commercial radio. Instead, I was forced those who didn’t really participate in col-
difficult to see how the vets were being to pretend it was the 1950s instead of the lege activities. As much as I love to hear
treated at the time. ’60s. I didn’t understand. Was there actual about the American students, I always
I am truly grateful for my DU educa- research that demonstrated what student wonder what happened to my Thai and
tion, the faculty and staff that I got to know listeners wanted to hear? I never saw it. Taiwanese friends, the Greek guy I took
and the positive impact the time at DU had I was also too idealistic to even consider English class with, and also those profes-
on me over the past decades. Simply stated, the possibility of payola. After graduation sors who taught just a few classes.
thank you! I applied to KFML, a contemporary music Linda Salim (BSBA ’98, MIM ’01)
Alan MacIlroy (BSEE ’69, MBA ’70) station. My KVDU experience was more of Indonesia
Princeton, N.J. a hindrance than a help. When I discovered
the huge improvements with KCFR, I was
stunned. Night and day. I felt vindicated. Send letters to the editor to: Chelsey Baker-
Our men’s book club was reading Too bad it didn’t happen a few years earlier; Hauck, University of Denver Magazine, 2199 S.
University Blvd., Denver, CO 80208-4816. Or
one of Chuck Box’s Joe Pickett novels I might have had a good career in radio.
e-mail du-magazine@du.edu. Include your full
[“Mystery Man,” summer 2009]. We asked David Bell (BA ’70) name and mailing address with all submissions.
if he’d be interested in coming to our Middleton, Wis. Letters may be edited for clarity and length.

University of Denver Magazine Letters 5


save
the
date
DU Homecoming
& Family weekend
2009
oct. 28 - nov. 1

Join us for a fun-filled weekend with your Pioneer Family!


Some fun activities for students,
alumni, parents, faculty, staff, family
and friends to look forward to:
• Recent Graduate Wine Reception
• Pioneer Pep Rally
• Pioneer Hockey Games
• Parent and Alumni Activities
• DU Parade
• Festive Activities for the Entire Family
• And Much More!

www.alumni.du.edu/homecoming

6 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


9 Smoke-free campus
11 Kwan’s graduation
12 Logging lawsuit
15 Bike sharing
16 Chinese sculpture
18 New lacrosse coach
22 Advice for parents

Wayne Armstrong

Workers install a stained-glass window—a gift to the University from DU’s Class of 2009—in the Driscoll
University Center in late May. The $3,000, 3-by-6-foot piece of stained glass depicts three of DU’s
most prominent towers: the Mary Reed Building, Buchtel Tower and the Ritchie Center’s Williams Tower.
Colorado artist Steve Skelton worked on the window for months, cutting each individual piece of glass and
soldering them together.

University of Denver Magazine Update 7


Top News
DU’s Bridge Community Garden takes root
By Samantha Stewart

Do you have SOLE power?


DU does, now that the Bridge Community Garden is up and running.
SOLE—an acronym used to denote food that is sustainable, organic, local and ethical—aptly describes the fruits and veggies
grown in the garden, located across from Centennial Halls at 1819 S. High St.
Members of the DU Environmental Team (a student organization) and the All Undergraduate Student Association Senate
worked throughout the 2008–09 academic year to obtain administrative approval for the garden.
“It started out certainly because of environmental reasons. But now I can see the huge benefits for the community in terms
of building stronger bonds and mobilizing to tackle other issues,” says Ben Waldman, a senior international studies major and co-
administrator of the Garden Steering Committee.
A May 30 ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the end of a two-month effort by volunteers from DU, the surrounding neighbor-
hoods and Denver Urban Gardens to transform the land—purchased by the University in 2005—into a workable garden.
The garden contains 12 plots, an herb garden, a tool shed and a community-compost system. Picnic benches, chairs and a grill
also enhance the space.
A federal work-study position has
been established to assist the Garden
Steering Committee with managing con-
flicts and organizing monthly workshops
on topics such as organic pest control,
basic gardening, composting, canning food
and conserving water.
A desire to share her perennials, col-
laborate with other experts and develop
a relationship with students prompted
neighbor Dawn Gardener to get involved.
“It’s a small little way of showing the
neighborhood that gardening can really be
a way to bring about community involve-
ment. It has been really rewarding,” says
Gardener, who planted tomatoes, peppers,
Wayne Armstrong

cucumbers, watermelon and pumpkins on


her plot.
Plot-holders must abide by the
University’s license-and-use agreement as
well as a number of stipulations devised by the Garden Steering Committee. They also must pay an annual fee of $25. Gardeners
who adhere to these rules are eligible to retain their plots the following year. To date, developing the garden has cost $6,000.
Waldman contributed $1,000 he received as a Morgridge Community Scholar, and the AUSA Senate covered the rest.
Several neighbors have credited the Bridge Garden with helping to break down the “invisible wall” between DU and the sur-
rounding community, according to Zoee Turrill, a former AUSA Sustainability Committee member who graduated in June. While
this partially explains the garden’s name, it was also somewhat fated—explains Gail Neujahr, a neighbor and co-administrator of
the Garden Steering Committee—as students found a broken footbridge on the property as they were developing the garden. They
repaired the bridge and re-installed it on the site.
And because Bridge gardeners want the entire community to enjoy the garden, a basket of free produce donated by plot-holders
is available at the front of the garden throughout the growing season, making it easier for everyone to have a little more SOLE power.
Students, faculty, staff and neighbors interested in obtaining a plot can send a request via e-mail to duenvironmental@
gmail.com or visit dugardens.org for more information. Plots are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

8 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


Campus to be smoke

Courtesy of Deborah Howard


free under new policy
An effort to simplify and extend the University
policy on smoking will go into effect Jan. 1, 2010,
making DU one of a handful of smoke-free campuses
in Colorado.
The decision comes on the heels of nearly
two years of surveys, letters, petitions, research and
debate on smoking policy that considered everything
from smoking areas marked by yellow umbrellas to a
total ban on all tobacco products.
After reviewing the evidence, DU Chancellor
Robert Coombe decided.
“A complete ban on the use or possession of
legal tobacco products among the DU community is
not reasonable,” Coombe said in a letter to the DU
community. “[DU] does not regulate legal personal
choice unless such choice has a deleterious effect Professor’s artwork accepted into Holocaust
on the community as a whole. … At DU, personal
choice is a part of personal growth.”
Art Museum
The policy will prohibit smoking in all locations
Four portraits of Holocaust survivors drawn by Deborah Howard, associate professor of art and
on campus except for an area 25 feet from public
art history at DU, were accepted into the permanent collection at the New Holocaust Art Museum in
perimeter rights-of-way. Also exempted from the
Jerusalem.
ban are two yet-to-be-designated smoking areas
The museum is part of the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial. It houses some 10,000 works and
outside the Ritchie Center and the Newman Center
according to the museum is the largest and most wide-ranging Holocaust collection in the world.
that will be available to smokers during public events.
Howard started with one person and through word of mouth has drawn 25 survivors. The entire
University officials said the new standard also will
work is titled “Portraits of Child Holocaust Survivors.”
apply to off-campus University-owned buildings.
Howard traveled to Israel to visit Yad Vashem and meet museum members. The curator selected
“It’s a public health issue,” says Dr. Sam Alexan-
four of her portraits to go into the permanent collection.
der, director of the Health and Counseling Center,
—Kristal Griffith
who spearheaded a DU Tobacco Task Force that
examined the issue. “Our main concern was the
effect of secondhand smoke on the health of people
who choose not to smoke.” DU introduces nanotech graduate program
Nationally, there are about 150 institutions that
are smoke free or tobacco free. The study of nanotechnology does not just affect the production of the latest iPod.
According to a survey conducted by the DU Nano-scale science and engineering are the foundation for the next generation of technologi-
Tobacco Task Force, 62 percent of students, 73 cal breakthroughs, says Rahmat Shoureshi, dean of the School of Engineering and Computer Science
percent of staff and 61 percent of faculty support a (SECS), and DU will begin playing a role in these breakthroughs.
smoke-free campus. The survey indicated that 4 per- SECS and the Division of Natural Science and Mathematics (NSM) have added a new master’s
cent of students smoke regularly on campus, another and PhD graduate program in nanoscale science and engineering. DU is the first university in the Rocky
4 percent smoke socially on and off campus, and 8 Mountain region to offer such graduate degrees.
percent smoke socially off campus. Alayne Parson, dean of NSM, says DU expects to draw more students from local industries
According to research compiled by the Tobacco because of the program.
Task Force, the danger for nonsmokers is in the SECS has identified four areas within nanotechnology as possible areas of study. They are nano-
carcinogens in secondhand smoke, which can cause energy, nano-aerospace structures, nano-medicine and nano-security.
lung cancer, heart disease and asthma in nonsmokers By focusing nanotech studies on areas related to energy, aerospace, biosciences and security, SECS
and pose a danger even in “occasional exposure.” hopes to attract interest from local industries and educate the future workforce.
—Richard Chapman The degree programs begin this fall. For more information, visit http://secs.du.edu or www.nsm.
du.edu.
—Laura Hathaway

University of Denver Magazine Update 9


Research
Everybody loves Lincoln
By Jack Sommars

Over 16,000 books have been written about the man, more than anyone except Jesus and Shakespeare. And this year,
which marks the 200th anniversary of his birth, dozens of new volumes will be eagerly read by scholars and
schoolchildren alike.
Why does Abraham Lincoln continue to fascinate us?
“There is something in his life for everyone,” explains DU history Professor
Susan Schulten. “From his humble beginnings and the drive to improve himself to his
complex understanding of the nation’s plight and, of course, his tremendous capacity
for leadership and compassion. It’s remarkable to think he is both a heroic figure to
Americans as well as someone we consider sympathetic and relevant.”
Schulten, a member of Colorado’s Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission,
says every generation seeks to “get right with Lincoln.”
“People want to make sense of his legacy for their own lives and particular prob-
lems,” she says. “Scholarship around Lincoln is often a reflection of our own contem-
porary concerns rather than a timeless biography we continually enlarge. Recently,
Americans have been more interested in his psychological health and his personal
relationships.”
The commission’s purpose is to promote understanding and appreciation of
Lincoln’s impact on the U.S. and how he shaped the destiny of Colorado and the West. 
“The more you know about Lincoln, the more complex a man you find,” Schulten
says. “He becomes less a distant icon—someone carved in stone—and more of a man
faced with impossible choices. He has come to represent our larger struggle to make
sense of the nation and its meaning.”
Schulten believes Lincoln’s greatest contribution to American political thought
was linking the ideals of the Declaration of Independence with the more pragmatic
aspects of the Constitution.
“Prior to the Civil War, Americans considered the Declaration a largely symbolic
document,” she says. “It was, after all, just that—a declaration that began our separa-
tion from Great Britain.
“The Constitution, on the other hand, was the authoritative document that
Wayne Armstrong

grounded the Union, yet it contained little in the way of values. For example, the word
‘equality’ doesn’t appear in the Constitution.
“As Lincoln struggled to plead his case against slavery, he used the Declaration
to show that equality contradicts the notion of slavery. He reconciled these two documents and by appealing to law, morality and reason,
shifted our nation’s course. Two hundred years later, we live in the world that Lincoln wrought.”
Schulten says the most contentious debate about Lincoln continues to be his role in freeing the slaves.
“Some people are shocked when they discover he was really a pragmatist when it comes to emancipation, especially those who want
to see him as this heroic figure who does this for moral reasons,” she says. Lincoln imposed emancipation as a military measure, Schulten
says, and for a time he even advocated returning black Americans to Africa.
“Thus, the title ‘Great Emancipator’ does little justice to the complex process by which slavery ended in this country,” says Schulten,
who has written about how Lincoln has influenced our current president.
“Barack Obama understands Lincoln’s depth, his complexity, his nuanced thought and especially the dilemmas he faced,” she says.
“What encourages me most is to see our new president so clear-eyed about Lincoln’s importance. He doesn’t shy away from discussing
Lincoln’s limitations, especially his pragmatic approach to the problems of race and slavery.
“Yet Obama also recognizes the enormous role Lincoln played, not just as a pragmatic politician, but as a strategic thinker who
changed our country’s understanding of the Constitution.”
>> www.colincoln200.org.

10 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


University adds health care

Wayne Armstrong
leadership master’s degree
As the debate over what to do about the U.S. health care system rages
on in the nation’s capital, the University of Denver has launched a new master’s
degree in health care leadership.
The Master of Professional Studies is offered through University
College, the college of professional and continuing studies at DU. The
degree is designed to help people currently in the health care field move
into leadership roles. It also will address current needs of the industry.
University College Dean Jim Davis says the school’s officials interviewed
providers and associations to learn exactly what professionals in the field need
to know to advance their careers. He notes that a specialized program like this
one is rarely found in traditional medical and nursing schools.
The program explores the functions of various health care entities, includ-
ing providers, insurance companies, government agencies and professional
associations. Also addressed is the manner in which different technologies, laws,
Figure skater Michelle Kwan leadership styles and financial models affect the system.
There are several distinct specialty concentrations: health care policy; law
adds DU diploma to list of and ethics; medical and health care information technologies; and strategic

accomplishments management of health care systems.


—Jim Berscheidt

Figure skating champion Michelle Kwan (BA ’09) joined more than
1,000 graduating seniors at the University of Denver’s undergraduate Com- The Ammi Hyde Interviews
mencement ceremony on June 6. Kwan—who came to DU in 2006—
received a BA in international studies from the Josef Korbel School of Inter- Help us build the future of DU, one student at a time.
national Studies. She minored in political science. Every year, we rely on alumni volunteers to help us
Kwan has won nine U.S. championships, five world championships
conduct Ammi Hyde Interviews in cities across the
and two Olympic medals and is the most decorated figure skater in U.S.
country. The Hyde Interview allows the University
history.
to admit students who embody DU’s core values
“It was a turning point in my life when I came to DU,” says Kwan (pic-
and who can succeed in our challenging academic
tured at the ceremony with Chancellor Robert Coombe). “From seventh
grade on I had tutors while I was training and competing, and it was a big
environment. Join us in November and February for
transition to go from full-time skating to full-time student.” She recalls spend- this unique opportunity to make a difference at DU.
ing the first few weeks at DU on crutches following hip surgery.
Kwan says initially she was shy when it came to asking questions in class
and that the back of the room was her preferred location. But DU’s small
classes and wonderful professors made it easy for her to become more
engaged, Kwan says.
Shortly after coming to the University, Kwan was asked to participate
in what she describes as the ultimate internship for an international studies
student. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (BA ’74, PhD ’81)
appointed Kwan the first American Public Diplomacy Envoy to help pro-
mote an understanding of America by sharing her story in a cross-cultural
dialogue with international youth.
Kwan has no plans to stop traveling on behalf of the U.S. She recently TO VOLUNTEER:
met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to discuss continuing her role Contact Nashwa Bolling
with the State Department. However, Kwan will still have tests waiting for at the Office of Admission:
her when she returns from each trip. She has been accepted to the graduate 1.800.525.9495
international affairs program at Tufts University in Medford, Mass. Nashwa.Bolling@du.edu
—Jim Berscheidt

University of Denver Magazine Update 11


DU law clinic sues feds over Rio Grande headwaters
DU’s Environmental Law Clinic filed suit June 2 against the United States government, seeking to stop proposed
logging on southern Colorado lands that feed the headwaters of the Rio Grande.
The river is a major source of drinking water for millions of people in Colorado, New Mexico and Texas and
provides water for agriculture in the United States and Mexico.
The suit, prepared by third-year student Jacob Schlesinger and Environmental Law Clinic Fellow Ashley
Wilmes under the direction of Environmental Law Clinic Director Michael Harris, names the U.S. Forest Service and
Department of Agriculture. It was filed in federal court in Denver on behalf of environmental groups Colorado Wild
and WildEarth Guardians.
The 17-page complaint alleges the proposed 3,500-acre Handkerchief Mesa Timber Project in the Rio Grande
National Forest near Alamosa in southwestern Colorado will impact lands stressed by previous clear-cutting and an
ongoing spruce budworm infestation. Allowed to proceed, the project could lead to continued soil damage, including
erosion and compaction, impacting the flow of water to the Rio Grande and thousands of communities downstream.
The Environmental Law Clinic hasn’t balked at taking on big agencies and organizations. Students at the clinic in
recent years have challenged state wildlife officials over prairie dog shoots and challenged Xcel Energy’s environmental
record at a Colorado power plant. 
 

Based in Santa Fe, N.M., WildEarth Guardians brings people, science and the law together in defense of the
American West’s rivers, forests, deserts and grasslands. Colorado Wild works from its headquarters in Durango, Colo.,
iStockphoto

to protect, preserve and restore the native plants and animals of the Southern Rocky Mountains, with particular attention
given to habitat protection of Colorado’s forested, roadless public lands and other ecologically important areas.
—Chase Squires

China Rising

The University of Denver Presents

James Fallows, The Atlantic Monthly


Monday, September 21, 7 p.m.
Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 2344 E. Iliff Ave.
Most people in the U.S. know very little about China, yet the country may soon become the number two
economy in the world. As a result, China will play a larger role in international affairs and take on other new
responsibilities of a rising world power. But it also is feeling the pain of rapid industrialization and
growing international engagement. Join the discussion as the 2009–10 Bridges to the Future
lecture series at DU explores the myths, realities, and challenges for America
of China Rising.

RSVP to scp@du.edu
or 303.871.2357

12 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


Pioneers finish strong in Donor Spotlight

Directors’ Cup Ann Spector Lieff


The University of Denver capped its second-best year in NCAA Ann Spector Lieff

Courtesy of Ann Spector Lieff


Division I history by finishing No. 54 in the Learfield Sports Directors’ (BA ’74) grew up the daugh-
Cup, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics ter of an entrepreneur. Her
announced June 29. father, Martin Spector,
The Pioneers sent 11 sports programs to NCAA postseason owned Spec’s Music—
competition and finished with 396.5 points. DU also finished first among record shops that were a
Front Range schools for the second consecutive season, followed by staple in the Miami music
Colorado (No. 69), Air Force (No. 105), Colorado State (No. 127), scene. Spector Lieff worked
Wyoming (No. 192) and Northern Colorado (No. 271). weekends and summers in
DU also was the highest ranked Sun Belt Conference institution, the stores, and she always
outdistancing No. 76 Middle Tennessee by more than 135 points. The thought she’d be a busi-
Pioneers also were the highest ranked I-AAA school for the second nesswoman.
consecutive season, topping No. 65 UC Irvine by more than 80 Still, when she headed
points. west for the first time in
“We are once again honored to represent the Front Range as her life to attend the Uni-
Denver’s University,” says Peg Bradley-Doppes, DU vice chancellor for versity of Denver, Spector
athletics and recreation. “We are growing into a consistent contender Lieff studied sociology.
on the national scene of Division I athletics. We still have a lot of work “As it turns out, having a liberal arts background was very helpful
to do, but we are proud of this year’s accomplishments.” in business,” Spector Lieff says. “You look at things a little differently.”
The Pioneers earned 100 points for their 20th NCAA skiing Spector Lieff graduated and immediately returned to help her
championship, 75 for a fifth-place NCAA finish in women’s golf and father.
52.5 for gymnastics’ 19th-place finish at NCAA nationals. “When I graduated, it was a small business, very entrepre-
In addition, Blake Worsley earned DU 47 points for his performance neurial, with maybe four or five stores,” she says. “With my help, we
at the NCAA men’s swimming and diving championships. DU also started to expand and one thing led to another. We decided to take it
earned 25 points each from men’s soccer, women’s soccer, hockey public.”
and women’s tennis. The men’s golf team chipped in 22 points with its In 1998, the company was named one of America’s Top 500
seventh consecutive NCAA appearance. Women-Owned Businesses by Working Woman magazine. Later that
—Media Relations Staff year, she and her father sold the company to Camelot Music and
Spector Lieff launched her own consulting company.
Along the way, she stayed involved with DU and was increas-
ingly excited about her alma mater’s future under then-Chancellor
University adds full-time Arabic Dan Ritchie’s leadership. Equally excited, Spector Lieff’s father came
up with the idea of starting a scholarship for women studying in the
faculty Daniels College of Business.
The Spector-Lieff Endowed Scholarship Fund was born in 1997
DU students now can learn Arabic from a new faculty member, the and annually supports undergraduate students—predominantly
first full-time Arabist in DU’s history. women—who are chosen on the basis of academic merit, financial
Maha Foster, who also speaks French and German, joined the need, leadership and community work.
languages and literatures faculty this spring as a lecturer in Arabic. She has “The support I receive from Ann is truly something I couldn’t
taught Arabic for more than 15 years. get through school without,” says senior international business
“Ever since the federal government lamented the fact that there was major Alexandra Mikros, who works three jobs and holds a 3.67 GPA.
a lack of critical languages speakers, Arabic has become one of the foreign “Her assistance has given me the option to afford an education that I
language classes most sought after by college students,” Foster says. couldn’t get on my own.”
Victor Castellani, chair of the Department of Languages and Literatures, That’s exactly what Spector Lieff and her father hoped to provide.
says it’s important for DU to offer Arabic because it’s the fastest-growing of “I hope that our scholarship gives these young women an
all world languages at U.S. colleges and universities. opportunity to get an education that they might not otherwise have
—Kristal Griffith the funds to receive,” Spector Lieff says. “Once they have an educa-
tion, they can do great things. No one can take away an education.”
—Janalee Card Chmel

University of Denver Magazine Update 13


Q&A
Vice Chancellor Tom Willoughby
on enrollment Interview by Jan Thomas

Q Given the recession, many will admitted 5,925 first-time, first-year stu-

Wayne Armstrong
assume enrollment at private dents, compared to 4,595 admitted last
universities is down. That may not be the year. We predicted that 3–4 percent fewer
case for DU. How did the University stay students would accept our offer of admis-
ahead of the curve? sion, and that’s exactly what happened.
But as of July 31, we had 1,232 deposits,

A We read the writing on the wall and


planned for the challenges the reces-
sion would likely present. We knew we were
almost 90 more than expected.

entering a period of great uncertainty in


which predictable patterns of behavior might
shift in how students and their families
Q You said one of the University’s
strategies was to increase the
number of applicants. How did you do
choose colleges and universities. that?
In the fall, an independent market-
research firm confirmed our initial thoughts.
Some 11,000 high school students were
surveyed to determine if the economic
A
The approach was very tactical. We
created a streamlined Web applica-
tion that was pre-populated with informa-
climate was affecting their college search tion we had captured previously about the
plans and ultimately their application and student. The application only asked for
enrollment decisions. We learned that essential information we needed and as
students were more likely to apply to more a result was easier and more efficient to
schools, more likely to consider schools offering more generous complete. The No. 1 consideration for students today is efficiency.
scholarship and financial aid awards, more likely to stay closer to They are accustomed to doing everything online. We designed an
home, and more likely to make enrollment deposits to more than one application with all of that in mind, and as a result we witnessed a 29
school to keep options open throughout the summer. percent increase in applications.
We knew other colleges and universities would be mindful of the
financial challenges families were facing and would likely admit more
students and offer more generous financial aid to enroll their targeted
class. Students receiving multiple offers of admission and financial aid
could potentially mean fewer students accepting DU’s offer to enroll
Q One of the things that differentiates a university most is
the academic quality of its students. Are you sacrificing
quality for numbers?
than in previous years. If we were going to compete in this challenging
marketplace, we knew we needed to think differently and implement
new strategies. We needed to maximize the size of our applicant pool,
encourage more students to complete the application process, admit
A Not at all. We not only had a larger applicant pool this year, but
the academic quality of the students applying improved. The
academic profile for those expected to enroll this fall is as strong as
more students and admit them earlier in the process, increase financial ever. One of the academic measures we track is the percentage of stu-
aid and communicate value repeatedly. We also increased the number dents enrolling who graduated from the top 10 percent of their high
of students offered a spot on our wait list. school class. This fall, 47 percent of our new students are from the
top 10 percent. That compares to 42 percent last year and 35 percent
two years ago. Equally important, the racial and ethnic diversity of

Q How many more students did you admit this year?


our new students increased from 15.5 percent to 18 percent of the
class.

A Our goal was to enroll a first-year class of 1,145 students


this fall. Without compromising academic quality, we Tom Willoughby has been DU’s vice chancellor for enrollment since 2004.

14 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


DU by the Numbers

Women’s
Library
Association
Bookstack
Statistics
Wayne Armstrong

Number of volunteers
20
Chancellor Coombe, Mayor John Hickenlooper, Mary Jean O’Malley and Zoee Turrill celebrate the launch of the
Number of books
bike-sharing program May 18.
35,000
DU to launch bike-sharing program Categories of books
Chancellor Robert Coombe and Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper commended University of 90 plus
Denver students May 18, recognizing the students’ commitment to sustainability as the University launched
a new bike library program.
The pilot program, which establishes a pool of 20 bicycles that can be borrowed free of charge on Boxes of books donated
campus this fall, will eventually roll into a citywide bike-sharing program. The city initiative will include about each month
600 bikes and scores of pick-up and drop-off kiosks around Denver. DU will host two of those kiosks when 1,400
the city program starts next spring.
In the meantime, it will be up to DU to test the program. Average number of
Hickenlooper, speaking on campus to nearly 100 students, faculty and staff, said he was especially
books sold each month
impressed by the dedication of seniors Mary Jean O’Malley and Zoee Turrill. The two partnered with the
on campus
city, then worked with campus supporters to raise $50,000 to help bring the city bike-share program to
DU. Academic departments, student groups and campus organizations all donated. 1,100
Coombe thanked the students for their involvement from the start and for finding new ways for DU
to become more environmentally friendly.
“It is really wonderful to see the campus community driving this effort forward with such vigor,” he
said. “We have an obligation as an institution to act in a responsible way with the land and the air and the Average number of books
environment as a whole … We intend to keep up our part of the bargain.” sold online each month
Hickenlooper also thanked Coombe for his willingness to support new projects.
“You are more fortunate than you can ever imagine to have someone like that at the helm,” Hicken-
122
looper told the assembled crowd.
In 2007 Coombe signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment.
Total monthly sales
With that, he formed the campus Sustainability Council, comprised of faculty, staff and students who have online and on campus
crafted a plan to make DU carbon neutral. Off to a fast start, the council has been part of recycling and $2,350
composting initiatives, power-saving programs and the bicycle library.
Hickenlooper closed the event with a surprise by reading an official city proclamation. Recognizing
the efforts of the students who helped join the University of Denver and the City of Denver in bike sharing,
May 18, 2009, will forever be known in the city of Denver as “Mary Jean O’Malley and Zoee Turrill Day.”
>>For more about DU’s green efforts, see Going Green on page 26. —Compiled by Evelyn Reid, president of WLA
—Chase Squires WLA book sales take place in the Mary Reed Building Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

University of Denver Magazine Update 15


Pioneers Top 10 Morgridge College of
Dining etiquette tips Education has new dean
1. A
 s a guest, don’t select the most Chancellor Robert Coombe has appointed Gregory Ander-
expensive item on the menu. son as dean of the Morgridge College of Education.
Prior to his position at DU, Anderson was an associate
2. D
 on’t be the only person at the table to
professor of education at Columbia University. He was on leave
order an appetizer.
from the school while serving as a program officer of higher-
3. I f you must leave the table in the middle education policy at the Ford Foundation in New York City.
of the meal, put your napkin on the seat “We are delighted that Greg Anderson will lead the Mor-
of your chair, never on the table. gridge College as we seek to position it as a catalyst for positive
4. B
 efore you begin to eat, wait for all change in education,” Coombe says.
At the foundation, Anderson oversaw one of the largest port-
Wayne Armstrong

of the individuals seated at your table


to be served and for your host to folios of international and domestic higher-education grants. He is a
begin eating. This holds true for each member of executive committees of multi-foundation partnerships
course. If your host indicates that it is and foundation-wide initiatives involving the U.S., Africa, Central
all right to begin eating, you may do so. and Latin America and Asia. He also serves on the foundation’s Knowledge, Creativity and Freedom Pro-
gram Division, leading a strategic planning team responsible for developing a new vision for U.S. and
5. Use your cutlery from the outside in. international higher-education planning. 
6. O
 nly cut enough food for the next The Morgridge College of Education recently completed a $35 million fundraising campaign, which
mouthful. includes construction costs associated with  a new building, three endowed faculty positions and the
7. I f you wish to stop eating temporarily creation of new institutes and scholarships.
—Jim Berscheidt
and don’t want the server to take the
plate away, cross the fork and knife on
the plate.
8. T o signal the server that you are Chinese sculpture debuts at Penrose Library
finished, place your fork and knife
Sometimes you have to seek out art, explore its subtle-

Jeff Haessler
together in the four o’clock position.
ties and ponder its muted hue. Then there’s Happy Life #8,
9. P ass both the salt and the pepper when a bold, bright new sculpture that stands tall and proud in
asked, “Please pass the salt.” DU’s Penrose Library lobby. The fiberglass sculpture by artist
10. Pass food to the right. Chen Wenling features a smiling Chinese farmer hoisting an
Compiled by School of Hotel, Restaurant and immensely fat sow on his shoulders.
Tourism Management professor and etiquette The sculpture is an accessible and enjoyable piece that
expert Robert Mill
can be viewed on a variety of levels, says Dan Jacobs, DU
art curator and Myhren Gallery director. And at nearly eight
feet tall and coated in bright red automotive paint, it’s hard
to miss.
At first blush, the sculpture is eye pleasing and whimsi-
cal. But look a little deeper and, Jacobs says, there are mes-
sages from the artist. There’s a story of interaction between
Western and Eastern worlds. In Asia, Jacobs says, the pig is
seen as a sign of prosperity and good times. In the West,
the pig can signify greed and excess. Combine the two, and
you start to see a Chinese farmer who appears happy but is
saddled with something so enormous it raises questions about the moment’s sustainability.
The sculpture has a distinct Chinese quality about it, Jacobs says, employing both a farmer with Asian
features and the color red, which often is associated with China. But it also has a Western echo, as Jacobs
notes the clear similarity to iconic European works of a farmer carrying a calf on his shoulders.
Happy Life is at DU indefinitely courtesy of Michael Micketti, Tom Whitten and Robischon Gallery; it
iStockphoto

will move to the Shwayder Art Building this fall.


—Chase Squires
16 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009
People
Taste of success
By Nathan Solheim

Angelo Camillo has earned the right

Wayne Armstrong
to be a food snob.
The Italian native and professor at DU’s School of
Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management has
worked in hotels and restaurants around the world,
including the German Presidential Palace, where
he served dignitaries such as Queen Elizabeth and
Presidents Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter.
Camillo is an expert in Italian cuisine, wine
and coffee and a member of the Colorado Chefs
Hall of Fame. In his personal kitchen, he makes 95
percent of his own food—hand-rolling pasta and
cooking with olive oil from his family’s olive grove
in Italy.
“Italian food is so simple; that’s why it’s the
best in the world,” he says. “What you find here in
America is not true Italian food. In Italy, we use six
or seven spices—and oregano is only for pizza.”
Whether it’s in the classroom or the
kitchen, Camillo takes time to educate those
around him. For instance, he’ll tell you that a
certain omnipresent coffee chain perpetuates an
abomination that passes for espresso only in the
United States.
From his humble beginnings in the small
village of Sante Croce Di Magliano—located in
one of Italy’s poorest regions—to his success
in restaurants and hotels in the United Arab
Emirates, England, New Zealand and elsewhere,
Camillo brings a lifetime of experience into the classroom.
“Whether my experience was good or bad, the students will know what to do when it happens to them,” says
Camillo, who also has taught at the California Culinary Academy and San Francisco State University.
Many of his lessons could only come from his years in the trenches. He can talk about dealing with the local
media. He can talk about developing relationships with local police and fire departments. He can talk about what to do
when someone dies in your hotel.
“He brought a lot of practical industry knowledge to the classroom,” says Josh Robbins (BA hospitality and
finance ’08), who’s now the staff accountant for the Four Seasons Resort and Hotel in Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Brian Green (BS hospitality ’08) remembers Camillo’s senior restaurant class as a hands-on experience.
“It was common to discuss something in class and head down to the kitchen for the second half of class to put the
theory into use,” says Green, now the bar manager for the Little Nell Hotel in Aspen, Colo.
Camillo seems to have found a place to finally settle down after a nomadic career. Though he traveled to China
for research and to teach management classes at South China Normal University in Guangzhou this past July, he can’t
wait to get back into his classroom at DU and teach.
“There’s no better reward than to walk in a classroom and see 30 faces waiting for you to tell them what they’re
going to learn today,” Camillo says.

University of Denver Magazine Update 17


DU names new men’s lacrosse Josef Korbel School dean
head coach announces retirement
Former Princeton men’s lacrosse coach Bill Tierney has been named the The person who helped build the Josef Korbel School of
head men’s lacrosse coach at the University of Denver. International Studies into one of the best international studies pro-
During his 22 seasons with Princeton, Tierney led the Tigers to six NCAA grams in the nation will step down next year.
championships, eight NCAA championship games, 10 NCAA Final Four appear- Dean Tom Farer plans to leave the position on June 30, 2010,
ances and 14 Ivy League championships. He compiled a 238–86 career record after 14 years. Farer says he plans on teaching and writing after he
at Princeton and has a career collegiate record of 272–93 for a .745 winning leaves the post.
percentage. When Farer became dean, the program was known as the
In 1992, Tierney won the Morris Touchstone Award as the Division I Graduate School of International Studies. In 2008 it was renamed in
Coach of the Year to go along with the Division III Coach of the Year honor he honor of the school’s first dean, Josef Korbel, the father of former
received in 1983 at Rochester Institute of Technology. He was elected to the U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Farer also oversaw con-
Long Island Chapter Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1994 and the New Jersey Lacrosse struction of an addition to Ben Cherrington Hall, the Korbel School’s
Hall of Fame in 1999. home.
Outside of his collegiate coaching honors, Tierney coached the United Chancellor Robert Coombe says Farer will become a University
States to a world championship in 1998 and was inducted into the U.S. Lacrosse Professor, a special designation held by only two others at DU.
Hall of Fame as part of the 2002 class. The chancellor says he’s confident someone with an extraordi-
Tierney replaces Jamie Munro, who resigned on May 7 after posting a 91– nary background will be recruited to lead the Korbel School. A search
70 mark in 11 seasons. Tierney began as head coach of the Pioneers on July 1. committee will be formed to recruit a new dean.
—Media Relations Staff —Jim Berscheidt

18 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


Essay
A little remembrance
By Margaret Earley Whitt

Stuart James placed his briefcase on the desk. Maybe he would open it right then, or maybe not.
He looked at the class, called someone by name and asked a question. The question might be
something like this: “‘Space is license.’ Who said that? What do you think it means?” Or “What is guilt?” And the
called-upon would venture a response.
We always had the idea that Stuart wasn’t fishing; he was starting a conversation. These questions were attached
to an early American literature class, and the subject matter would have been the Puritans. Stuart preferred—it
seems to me now in retrospect—to suggest things, to make
connections by associating one text with another, one idea
here with something he had just read the other night. At
this point, he would reach into his briefcase and pull out a
book.
Another time he would stop in the middle of a point—
maybe he had the whole class laughing about something—
and his face would grow somber. He would get that faraway
look in his eye, and, for a minute, we ceased to exist for him.
He would tell about a World War II mission he flew. About
what his crewmates’ response was when they dropped a
bomb. All laughter stopped. Then he would look at the class
again and say: “Happiness is going through life with blinders
on.” Then just as suddenly as the mood changed one way, he
shifted it in another direction.
Many people considered Stuart James their best
friend. When I asked him why so many people liked him so
much, he shrugged his shoulders and made a reference to
John Singer. He was talking about a deaf mute in Carson
McCullers’ The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter. Singer was the one
everybody wanted to tell their problems to, even though
they all knew he couldn’t hear a word they said.
When I wrote my first paper for Stuart, he showed me
how it wasn’t very good by drawing a series of short lines
on a scrap of paper. He pointed to the spaces between those
lines: “Here is what you left in your head. You didn’t write
DU Archives

it down.” I understood instantly what he meant, and that


image has helped me more than once in my own writing and
in the way I would come to talk to students about their writing.
Stuart said he thought teaching was a lot like throwing a baseball into the Grand Canyon. You keep waiting for
some sound to come back to you. Sometimes you just wait.
Stuart James was a mainstay in the DU Department of English from 1957 until he retired in the early 1980s.
As a graduate student, I was fortunate to have him for two classes, and when I think about my own teaching at the
University of Denver, I know it was Stuart James who shaped the teacher I became. He taught me the importance of
telling stories and teaching by suggestion and association.
Some teachers we just don’t forget; Stuart James was one who made a difference in the lives of thousands of us
over the years who had the opportunity to expand our worlds through exposure to his vision.

Margaret Earley Whitt (PhD ’86) taught English at DU from 1987 until her retirement to North Carolina in 2008. Stuart James died in 1995 and is
memorialized by a monument at the southwest corner of DU’s Sturm Hall. A Gaelic inscription at its base reads “Go deo inar Chroi”—always in our
hearts.

University of Denver Magazine Update 19


Views
Higher ground Photograph by Wayne Armstrong

Most of the DU community


is familiar with
Chamberlin Observatory near campus,
but DU astronomy students and faculty
get even closer to the stars at the Meyer-
Womble Observatory, located on Mount
Evans near Idaho Springs.
Near the mountain’s peak at 14,148
feet, the observatory offers the second-
highest vantage point of any telescope
on Earth. And because it stands above
40 percent of the atmosphere’s light-
distorting effects, images produced by
the observatory sometimes can rival
those of the Hubble Space Telescope in
clarity and resolution.
DU constructed an A-frame building
at the summit of Mount Evans in
1935 to support expanding cosmic ray
research. In 1972, DU’s first summit
telescope replaced the structure, and in
1996, the Meyer-Womble Observatory
opened at the location.
A gift of $3.8 million from the
estate of William Womble (BA ’34)
funded construction of the facility and
endowed the Womble Professorship
in Astronomy. Eric Meyer—an
anesthesiologist who designed the
telescope—and his wife, Barbara,
donated the $1 million telescope and
brought the telescope optics from
Chicago personally.
>>www.physics.du.edu

20 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


University of Denver Magazine Update 21
Wilcots named associate provost Parent to Parent

After an extensive internal search, Barbara Wilcots (PhD English ’96) has
Support your student’s
been named DU’s associate provost for graduate studies. spiritual growth
In her new position, Wilcots is responsible for overseeing graduate
admission, graduate financial aid and doctoral fellowships, and for enhancing Many young people experience a crisis of faith while attending
graduate program quality. She also will work closely with deans and faculty college. Once they find themselves on their own, some kids seem
members to promote opportunities for collaboration and interdisciplinary to falter when exposed to conflicting value systems and less overall
programming. supervision. As parents, we don’t want them to lose their way after
Wilcots most recently served as associate dean in the Division of Arts, we have spent years nurturing their spiritual growth while under our
Humanities and Social Sciences. A tenured associate professor of English, wings. Consider the following suggestions to help students thrive in
Wilcots also has served as director of the Gender and Women’s Studies their spiritual life during their college years:
Program, director of undergraduate studies in the Department of English and 1. E
 ncourage students to discover ways to stay in communion
interim director of the First Year English Program. with God while at school—for example, campus ministry
Wilcots received a bachelor’s degree in journalism and graphic arts from groups that reach out to students. Be willing to assist in
Drake University; her master’s degree in journalism and public relations is exploring the available options.
from Drake as well.
She also holds a master’s degree in American literature and rhetoric from 2. A
 sk them about the ways they have seen God working in
Texas Woman’s University. She obtained her PhD in 20th century American their lives at school—in class, dorms, discussions with
literature from DU. professors or among friends. Also help them recall ways God
—Media Relations Staff has helped them in the past.

3. C
 hallenge them to pray for more than just success on their
exams and papers; remind them to consider the needs of
their classmates and professors and pray about these things

Reach higher… as well. College can be a great time to get to know God even
better.

Make your mark in our community 4. A


 sk them about the ways their faith has been challenged at
school. Reassure them that these things can be a normal part
of their growth process and can be used as fuel for their own
Give to the Chancellor’s Innovation Fund.
spiritual fire.
Support the excellence 5. B
 e mindful of your reactions to things students tell you. This
of a DU education is where some of your best listening skills can be extremely
with your gift helpful. You can influence your student’s thinking through
to scholarships, open discussion.
financial aid
and quality 6. S uggest they find a spiritual mentor on campus with whom
programs. they can regularly spend time (our son has received great
support through his weekly meetings with one of the campus
ministry leaders at DU).

7. S peak words of life and blessing over them, trusting that


God will be present and active in their lives. Remember that
God loves them and try to resist the temptation to worry or
be fearful.

8. A
 nd, of course, pray, and ask others in your faith community
to help you in this vital role.
—John Kloeckner

DU Parents Council member John Kloeckner and his wife, Carol, have been married
for more than 25 years. They have five children, including David Kloeckner, who is in
his second year in DU’s Pioneer Leadership Program. DU supports students from all
giving.du.edu 1-800-448-3232 faith traditions through its Center for Religious Services (www.du.edu/crs).

22 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


History
When campus caught the flu
By Steve Fisher

“Avoid needless crowding …

Courtesy of the National Museum of Health and Medicine, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
Smother your coughs
and sneezes … Wash your hands before
eating … ”
These words of advice bring to mind
warnings heard around the world during the
recent H1N1/swine flu scare, but they were
actually uttered in the fall of 1918 by Dr.
William Sharpley, Denver manager of health.
The Spanish influenza had finally come to
Denver.
More than 1,000 had already died in
Boston, and more than 100 in Chicago.
The first Denver fatality was a young
DU student named Blanche Kennedy, who
died at the home of her brother William on
Sept. 28, 1918.
Kennedy is something of a mystery.
Twenty years old at the time of her death,
she came from a prominent Colorado
pioneer family. Her father, also named
William, had been a member of the Colorado This emergency hospital in Fort Funston, Kan., was similar to the temporary hospital built at DU to treat
Constitutional Convention of 1876 and was influenza victims in 1918.
later city attorney of Leadville. Her uncle
was D. F. Crilly, who built the Windsor Hotel in Denver.
According to a Rocky Mountain News article at the time, Blanche acquired the flu while visiting family in Chicago. A
week later, brother William also died of the flu, becoming Denver’s sixth casualty. William had been a Denver assistant city
attorney and left behind a wife and child. His home at 2070 Birch St. was immediately quarantined.
Records in the registrar’s office show that Kennedy attended the DU Preparatory School from 1916 to 1918, though she
never appears in the student yearbook, the student newspaper or in any other DU administrative records.
Classes at DU had just begun when Blanche died. On Oct. 2, 1918, DU and all other schools in Denver were shut down by
order of the city board of health. A week later, all outdoor gatherings in Denver were banned.
Though DU astronomer Herbert Howe noted in his diary on Oct. 7 that “no one of our students is known to be ill with
[the flu],” what most concerned then-Chancellor Henry Buchtel was the fact that 266 Student Army Training Corps (SATC)
members were living in close quarters in the Alumni Gymnasium, training for possible future deployment to Europe.
World War I was raging, and earlier in the year military training had become compulsory for all men younger than 30
enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts. Soon, so many SATC men became ill that a temporary hospital was built next to the
gymnasium. It quickly filled to overflowing. There do not appear to have been any fatalities on campus, however.
World War I brought great changes to campus, but now the war was winding down. An armistice was signed on Nov. 11
—during the flu closure—bringing an end to the war. That same day, Sharpley lifted his orders mandating that schools be
closed. On Nov. 16 the football season was allowed to begin and DU beat the Aggies.
On Nov. 18, DU officially reopened. The four platoons of SATC men were mustered out on Dec. 20.
Statistics of the period are unreliable, but it’s estimated that between 40 million and 100 million people died of the flu
worldwide between 1918 and 1920, 675,000 of them in the United States.
There were between 3,000 and 8,000 flu victims in Colorado, around 1,500 in the city of Denver. Blanche Kennedy
appears to have been the only one with a direct DU connection.

University of Denver Magazine Update 23


Arts
Ancient technique, modern world
By Greg Glasgow

For a different view of many of DU’s iconic buildings, one need just visit the on-campus
studio of Chen Hao, a Chinese painter and visiting scholar who came to the University
to share his expertise in urban landscape with students and faculty.
Chen grew up studying his country’s traditional method of painting. But unlike his
ancestors, he spends most of his time in the urban world, not the world of nature. Using a hand
brush, Chinese ink and rice paper, he creates delicate visions of the modern world as beautiful
and evocative as the ancients’ depictions of trees and mountains.
“Why not use traditional Chinese painting to express [feelings different than those of] the
ancient people?” says Chen, who lives and paints in a studio apartment in DU’s Nagel Hall. “We
are not ancient people. We can learn the techniques of
the ancients but we can express our feelings about the
modern world.”
Chen, an associate professor and deputy director
in the painting department of the Xu Beihong School
of Arts at Renmin University in Beijing, received a
scholarship from the China Scholarship Council to come
to the U.S. as a visiting scholar. Through connections
with Elizabeth Owen, DU assistant professor of Asian
art history, he chose to come to Denver.
The 38-year-old artist started his one-year
residency at DU in April, and by summer he already had
completed numerous paintings of DU buildings. He also
ventured into downtown Denver in the spring to sketch
snow-covered streets and buildings.
“As a modern painter in traditional styles, Chen
uses painting modes, spatial features and other
characteristics of the past to re-invigorate and inform
the art of the present,” Owen says. “In this, he adds
Wayne Armstrong

his own modern twist by incorporating modern, urban


settings, skyscrapers and other city scenery within his
subtle and nuanced landscape images.”

“Night View of Nagel Hall”

24 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


“A Far View of Denver”
You’re likely to see Chen carrying a sketchbook around campus, but rarely a camera. Working from a
photograph, he says, doesn’t allow an artist to access his emotions about a scene.
“If I see something, it’s more accurate and more exciting than cameras and videos,” he says. “If I’m just
walking through campus and see sunlight or a sunset that’s so beautiful, I will remember it and when I get
back to my studio I will try to paint it.”
Chen is well known in China. His paintings have been collected by the China National Museum and
foreign dignitaries, and he has written two art textbooks, including a 2007 book on urban landscape. He also
designed two commemorative postage stamps in honor of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics.
“I don’t think the DU community is really aware of what a young, famous ‘superstar’ we have in our very
midst,” Owen says. “Professor Chen’s scholarly and artistic talents are definitely an asset to our students and
faculty.”
During his time at DU, Chen will visit studio classes and courses on Asian art history, and he will give a
lecture this fall. In addition, he will demonstrate his technique and exhibit his paintings.

University of Denver Magazine Update 25


Wayne Armstrong
DU plans
for carbon
neutrality

Going Green
by 2050.

By Chase Squires

26 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


H
umans first learned how to release carbon into the atmosphere with smoky campfires at the dawn of time. Since
then, if there’s one thing we’ve gotten truly great at, it’s producing carbon, more and more of it, stuffing our
atmosphere with greenhouse gases and turning our planet into a hothouse on the verge of catastrophic climate
change.
Now, the University of Denver is announcing what may prove its most ambitious initiative: a University-
wide commitment to sustainability. DU is poised to produce a new generation of leaders dedicated to planetary
sustainability and a campus that will be entirely carbon neutral by 2050.
Fulfilling the University’s pledge to the American College and University Climate Commitment program, the DU Sustainability
Council—comprised of students, faculty and staff—spent 15 months hammering out the University of Denver Sustainability Plan and
Report. In June, the 93-page blueprint was delivered to senior administrators. With backing from the Board of Trustees, it was approved by
Chancellor Robert Coombe.
“We have only just begun with the sustainability initiative at DU,” says Provost Gregg Kvistad, who serves on the Sustainability Council,
lending the administration’s support to an array of environmental initiatives. “An enormous amount of hard work is ahead of us, but we have
the people, the commitment, the ingenuity and the institutional will to move it forward.”

-
U nder the plan, DU will achieve climate neutrality by 2050,
drastically reducing its share of the greenhouse gases
blamed for polluting the atmosphere and impacting the
world’s climate.
Along the way, the council has committed to adopting new
Fred Cheever, a Sturm College of Law professor who chaired
the council from its inception in February 2008 until the sustain-
ability plan was delivered to Coombe in June, says incorporating
sustainable goals into every part of campus life is the ultimate aim,
making sustainability a concern before undertaking any action, even
technologies as they are developed, meeting interim mileposts something as simple as turning on a light switch or turning up the
and achieving reductions at every opportunity. Members of the thermostat on a chilly day.
University community will be asked to change the way they do “The cheapest kilowatt-hour is the one you don’t use,” he says.
things: the way they teach and learn, the way they get to work, Beyond energy consumption and conservation, though, the
where they get their food, how they design learning spaces and how plan calls for incorporating sustainability into DU’s curriculum,
they grow flowers. teaching students the importance of conservation and sustainable
Nothing is untouchable. Even the climate inside University development.
buildings is fair game, as DU began raising thermostats in offices “Sustainability has made it into the public consciousness,
and classrooms this summer to cut energy consumption. and the University of Denver, in particular, has done a great job
“The hard work starts now,” says Lyndsay Agans, clinical of stepping out and understanding the burden, the responsibility,
assistant professor at the Morgridge College of Education and that higher-education institutions bear in relation to sustainability,”
lead author of the plan. “We have the resources to do this, to be a Agans says.
national leader. This truly fits the mission of our university. We can “Universities and colleges are obligated, given their role as
do this. But it will take work.” social institutions, to educate students and change the citizenry with
The plan is a roadmap, spelling out details of a multifaceted programs built around sustainability,” she adds. “It’s about chang-
approach to sustainability that goes beyond the nuts and bolts of ing the dominant paradigm, and universities play a key role in that.
fossil fuels and renewable energy. It is all-encompassing, press- They’re the essential location for changing that.”
ing for change in the way people interact on campus, both with The plan calls for the incorporation of sustainability issues into
their environment and with one another. It calls for a lifestyle that student orientation, the introduction of locally grown foods into
embraces understanding and conservation across the DU campus. dining halls, the use of organic fertilizers and pesticides on campus

University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009 27


landscapes, and care to ensure that DU’s institutional investments
continue to reflect the University’s commitment to global social
- “You don’t have great cities without great universities,” the
mayor said. “DU was the first institution that stepped up right away
responsibility. and said, ‘How can we be a part of this? It’s a perfect match with
And the plan is about people, too, calling for continued efforts our core values and principles.’”
to foster diversity and equity through everything from diversity ini- Chancellor Coombe has backed the sustainability effort
tiatives to domestic-partner benefits. from the start, dating back to 2007, when he signed the Climate
DU already has taken concrete steps. The Sustainability Commitment. From there, he has championed the nexus where
Council didn’t just discuss issues; members came to monthly meet- DU’s many missions come together, encouraging the University
ings prepared to act. community to harness the creative energy in laboratories and class-
Since September 2008, the University has rolled out a mas- rooms across campus, serve the public good and deliver quality
sively revamped recycling program, announced a bike-sharing part- educational programs.
nership with the city of Denver, installed a vehicle fueling station “This is going to be a great learning experience for our stu-
for cleaner-burning compressed natural gas, retrofitted a skating dents, one that couples student engagement in real issues with deep
rink and the lighting system in the Ritchie Center for Sports and classroom learning about how to reasonably interpret those issues,”
Wellness for greater efficiency, and created a pilot parking program Coombe says. “This is one of those areas where we can serve both
that rewards the owners of energy-efficient vehicles with prime our students and the public good by graduating capable, well-
parking spots. informed men and women whose lives can influence the future,
On the academic side, DU for the first time this fall offers an and by using our intellectual assets to develop new ideas that can
undergraduate minor in sustainability that can be tailored to mesh have a direct impact.”
with virtually any major.
Agans, who focused much of her doctoral work on the role
of sustainability in education, says adding an undergraduate edu-
cational component was a natural start. Across DU’s decentralized
campus, many educators already were teaching aspects of sustain-
ability, but it took a concerted effort—one she says many were open
to—for the curriculum committee to pull together a minor.
L ooking ahead, Agans sees campus engagement as a key
component to maintaining the momentum. The road
ahead is long, and the work will take many hands and
hearts to carry forward, she says. Setting a goal that’s 41 years in the
future may seem like the easy way out, but Agans says it’s actually
Next, Agans says, there’s room for even more focused efforts, harder, because it demands patience and persistence, commitment
such as graduate programs, research projects, the incubation of new to the larger goal while hitting interim targets along the way.
technologies and business models, and cross-campus collaboratives Patience comes in as DU waits for new technologies that make
connecting different colleges. solar, wind and hydrogen power more efficient and economically
“When you think about higher-education institutions changing feasible. And a big, often overlooked, component to sustainability
society, there are a lot of student efforts, a lot of grassroots efforts, is the fiscal sustainability of DU, she says. A university that spends
a lot of civic-engagement efforts, but we’ve also got to look at what itself out of existence is carbon neutral. But it also doesn’t do any
we do as educators,” Agans says. “There’s an amazing amount of good.
research being done by our own faculty, so it’s a matter of connect- It might be easier for the University to simply buy its way into
ing that and saying, ‘Yes, we are engaged in sustainability.’ It’s about carbon neutrality, purchasing carbon credits as needed. And though
preparing students for that new green economy.” offsets are indeed a part of the DU plan, Kvistad says credits alone
From the start, the faculty and staff members on the council are not the answer.
have embraced student participation, welcoming undergraduate and “Credits are a market device to displace responsibility,” he says.
graduate students as peers. And students have led the way on new “And that is not consistent with the University’s values.”
initiatives. So the future will come as it comes, and Agans says the council
It was Daniels College of Business master’s candidate Charlie must continue to drive innovation, collaboration and action.
Coggeshall who took his pilot recycling program at Daniels and “This year comes down to the people and the students and giv-
worked with facilities managers and administrators to turn it into ing the people of our community room to do and to follow their
the campus-wide “Get Caught Green-Handed” single-stream passions,” she says. “It’s also about doing what we say we’re going
recycling program. It’s proven so popular in just one academic to do.
year that offices and classrooms are turning in more recyclables “When we were writing the report, part of it was deciding what
than trash. was going into it and being transparent and authentic, not saying [we
And it was undergraduate students Mary Jean O’Malley and would do] something that we couldn’t do. A lot of institutions will
Zoee Turrill who latched on to a budding Denver bike-sharing pro- say they’re going to be carbon neutral. We wouldn’t just say it. We
posal to develop a city/University partnership and launch a campus were checking our science and checking our math independently—
pilot program that will meld with the city program in 2010. Denver can we really do this?”
Mayor John Hickenlooper came to campus to help celebrate the She’s optimistic. Attitudes do change. People do change.
launch, which drew national attention. “A few years ago recycling was an odd thing,” she says. “Now
Hickenlooper showed great enthusiasm at DU’s involvement we recycle more than we throw away. That’s been a very quick
and recognized O’Malley and Turrill with a city proclamation. change. We can do this.”

28 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


Counting carbon
DU has a lot to consider when measuring its carbon footprint. It’s not just about the fuel
combusted to heat buildings on campus; it’s the University’s share of coal burned at the power
plant, it’s fuel burned by company-owned vehicles, it’s even the carbon emitted by airplanes taking
students to their study-abroad destinations.
Below are some of the actual greenhouse gas emissions produced by DU in 2008, followed
by projected amounts in 2012, 2020 and 2050 under the sustainability plan. The University plans
to make reductions in as many categories as possible and offset any remainder for a net balance of
zero emissions by 2050.
2008 (ACTUAL) 2012* 2020* 2050*

UTILITY COMBUSTION: 10,946 9,748 10,675 5,338


VEHICLE FLEET: 272 196 196 196
PURCHASED ELECTRICITY: 44,084 39,543 33,263 8,238
COMMUTING: 14,188 9,579 9,047 9,047
AIR TRAVEL: 11,276 10,704 10,704 10,704
Total: 80,766 69,770 63,885 33,523

* Projected
AMOUNTS ARE IN CO2 METRIC TON EQUIVALENTS. ONE CAR EMITS APPROXIMATELY 6.8 MTEs PER YEAR.

Visit www.du.edu/green for the full report and an inventory of DU’s greenhouse gas emissions.

University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009 29


The Rising Cost
By Jan Thomas
Illustrations by Steve Schader

of College

30 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


Ever-expanding costs are pricing

college out of the reach of many.

At DU, administrators are working

U
to change that equation.

Until the 1944 GI Bill rewrote the script on higher education, few outside America’s

elite could afford to attend college. But under the bill’s umbrella, and with help from a

host of other financial and societal changes, college attendance surged, tripling between

1960 and 1975 and increasing 65 percent between 1975 and 2007, according to

U.S. Census data. For many, college became more rite of passage than unattainable

American dream—at least for a while.

Tuition and attendance fees rose 439 percent between 1982 and 2006, according

to the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, and the American middle

class, battered by deep recessions in the 1980s and ’90s, felt the pinch. By the time

the current recession hit its stride in 2008, college affordability was already a national

concern.

Now, with layoffs and foreclosures continuing, personal lines of credit constricted,

job openings shaky and real economic stability at least two years away, parents, politi-

cians and academics can’t help but wonder if there really is such a thing as a higher-

education bubble. And if so, has that bubble finally burst?

University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009 31


“If costs continue to escalate,

the audience for private higher education

will simply grow narrower and narrower,”

says DU Chancellor Robert Coombe.

E conomic bubbles occur when commodities sell at a level far


greater than their actual value—and it’s that five-letter word,
v-a-l-u-e, that makes what’s happening in higher education a hot
to confront the very real potential for middle-class flight to more
affordable public counterparts.
Although DU hasn’t encountered that problem yet—
topic of debate. applications for the 2009–10 academic year were almost 30 percent
In a May 2009 editorial written for the Chronicle of Higher higher than they were in 2008—the sentiment that leads some fami-
Education, Joseph Marr Cronin, former Massachusetts secretary of lies to choose public over private education is understandable.
educational affairs, and Howard Horton, president of New England “Private higher education has gotten to be very expensive. It’s
College of Business and Finance, argue that the term is apt. an extraordinary investment for students and their families,” says
“Consumers who have questioned whether it is worth spending DU Chancellor Robert Coombe. “We have been working hard to
$1,000 a square foot for a home are now asking whether it is worth control costs, but we are well aware of the fact that if costs continue
spending $1,000 a week to send their kids to college,” they write. to escalate, then no matter what their origin, even if they’re just
“There is a growing sense among the public that higher education associated with the real cost of doing business, the audience for pri-
might be overpriced and under-delivering.” vate higher education will simply grow narrower and narrower.”
On the flip side are data that prove higher education gener- For Worden, sticker shock caused scholarships to become the
ates results. Among the most compelling are U.S. Census statistics determining factor in his family’s college search.
that show that workers with a bachelor’s degree earned an average “My kids are student-athletes,” Worden says. “We’re find-
of $57,181 and those with an advanced degree earned an average of ing colleges willing to help them [with financial aid], but basically
$80,977 in 2007, while those with only a high school diploma earned schools that are not interested in my children coming and playing
an average of $31,286. athletics are completely ruled out. That narrowed the field consider-
The obvious takeaway is that those with college degrees earn ably. I’m not saying that’s necessarily a bad thing, but it’s definitely
more and almost always recover the cost of their higher-education affected the schools we look at and the choices we feel we have.”
investment.
Still, arguments that point only to higher education’s long-term
value don’t address the fundamental concerns of parents like John
Worden (BA ’81), who spend months looking for schools that are a
I n a 2008 National Center for Public Policy and Higher Edu-
cation survey, 55 percent of respondents said a college degree
is necessary to succeed, but only 29 percent said qualified students
good educational and financial fit, only to reach the conclusion that can afford the investment. Combine statistics like that with a chorus
“unless you have a bucket of money available somewhere, a college of voter complaints about higher-education costs, and politicians
degree is very difficult to obtain.” take notice.
Private colleges and universities nationwide are being forced This year, the Obama administration announced 2010 budget

32 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


proposals for higher education that include establishing a Pell Grant
maximum of $5,550 for the 2010–11 academic year and indexing the
maximum grant to grow faster than inflation; increasing the tuition
DU UNDERGRADUATE TUITION
tax credit for the first two years of college from $1,800 to $2,500 Dollars
$34,596 350
and making it partially refundable; increasing Perkins Loans from 35,000
$1 billion to $6 billion a year and from 1,800 participating schools to $32,976

4,400; providing new student and parent loans through the federal $31,428
government; and a new five-year, $2.5 billion fund to improve col- 30,000 300
$29,628
lege access and completion. The administration also streamlined the
$27,756
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
These changes fall on the heels of those mandated when
former President George W. Bush signed the Higher Education 25,000 250
Opportunity Act into law in 2008. A portion of the act created six
College Affordability and Transparency Lists that will document,
among other things, the top 5 percent of institutions with the larg- 20,000 200
est percent change in tuition and fees over the past three academic
years. Schools that fall into this category will be required to submit
letters to the secretary of education that identify the portions of their
15,000 150
budgets that generated the largest cost increases, explain why those
increases occurred and outline their plans to reduce similar cost
increases going forward.
Uninvited policymaker tinkering may be part of the new nor- 10,000 100
mal for higher education, but it’s not government intervention that
really has schools worried.
“All you have to do is take a look at data concerning the socio- 5,000 50
economic distribution of college graduates today,” Coombe says.
“Something like two-thirds of all students who graduate with a
bachelor’s degree by the time they’re 24 come from families in the
0 0
top quartile of family incomes; less than 10 percent come from the 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2004 05 06
bottom quartile. [Because] students who earn a bachelor’s degree or
higher have far greater incomes throughout their lives, their children
are far more likely to go to college and graduate. There is a feedback
loop that contributes to economic polarization. up. They need to look at what they’re doing and be very critical of
“To the extent that higher education becomes less and less that, both from the perspective of what is being produced by the
accessible to those with lower family incomes or to students coming dollars they spend and who is being employed to do that work.”
from families where they are the first generation going to college, Approaches vary campus to campus. Last fall, DU initiated a
this polarization widens,” Coombe adds. “It’s imperative that higher series of cost-cutting measures that ranged from a voluntary and
ed respond in ways that make higher education more affordable for a non-voluntary staff severance program that reduced headcount
very broad socioeconomic distribution of people.” by 125 positions to streamlining supply and expense budgets. The
effort cut expenses by more than $12 million and did so in a man-

W hat will that response look like?


Voluntary limits on tuition increases are clearly step one.
Earlier this year, the National Association of Independent Colleges
ner that, Coombe says, “has no adverse impact on our mission to
provide the highest quality education to our students, grow a thriv-
ing and productive research enterprise and actively serve the public
and Universities reported that private, nonprofit colleges and uni- good.”
versities enacted the smallest average increase in tuition and fees The savings were funneled into critical areas such as financial
since 1972. DU’s 4.9 percent tuition increases for the 2008–09 and aid, where they provided a bump to the base amount of money
2009–10 academic years were its lowest in a decade. qualifying students receive, increased the base amount of merit
Step two requires schools to find innovative ways to cut costs. scholarships, and added $4 million to the University’s fund for
“The primary driver of expense increases is people. This is an emergency financial aid.
extraordinarily labor-intensive combination of both education and Currently, about 80 percent of DU students receive some form
student-life programs,” says DU Provost Gregg Kvistad. of financial support, with roughly 44 percent receiving need-based
In the coming year, faculty and staff compensation is expected aid from the University, 22–24 percent receiving talent and merit
to comprise nearly 60 percent of the University’s operating scholarships, and the remainder receiving student loans from fed-
expenses—an increase of 7 percent in five years. eral and private resources. The pool of undergraduate institutional
“Cost is a big deal,” Kvistad adds. “There’s a fair amount of financial aid—DU scholarships and grants, tuition waivers and
rhetoric, as there is with all sorts of policy issues about waste and student employment—has increased by an average of 9.9 percent
inefficiency, but certainly universities and colleges need to tighten annually since 2004, and the University awarded more than $46

University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009 33


million in 2008–09, says Julia Benz, assistant vice chancellor for future. We work very closely with these families to let them know
scholarships and financial aid. (Financial aid numbers for 2009–10 that if the bottom drops out, if they lose their job, we’re here for
were not yet available when this article went to press.) them—but until that event happens or we have something that
Even so, DU can’t match the likes of Ivy League offers of free documents that their financial situation has changed, it’s hard for us
tuition for families earning less than $60,000 annually. So while the to respond.”
University’s rising reputation attracts the best young minds, it has Ultimately, budget cuts, headcount reductions, streamlined
to work doubly hard to retain them, says Tom Willoughby, DU’s operations and greater need for financial assistance are just one part
vice chancellor for enrollment. of the big picture. Endowments, which fund scholarships and often
“We’ve experienced a significant increase in the number of are used to pay a portion of schools’ operating budgets, lost value—
appeals to financial aid decisions, and the reality is that there is DU’s dropped 22 percent from a 2008 high of about $300 million
increased financial need,” Benz says. “We require updated docu- before beginning to climb back with help from recovering markets
mentation to review appeals, and what we receive often shows huge and fundraising efforts.
changes in financial circumstances. “We have to work independently to address cost concerns apart
“We also field a lot of phone calls from people asking about from whatever the federal or state governments may do,” Coombe
want-based aid,” Benz adds. “It usually happens when there isn’t says. “Leaders of colleges and universities have to be thinking about
a huge shift in the family finances, but they’re worried about the how to change their fundamental operating model in a manner that
makes it more affordable for students.
“For us, it really gets down to the value proposition. Are the
596$34,596 350 350DU REVENUES 350 DU
350 EXPENSES value of the education and the vast array of experiences associated
Millions of Dollars Millions of Dollars with it worth the net cost? In investigating any school, if I were a
$34,596 350 350 student or a parent, I’d be asking, ‘What’s the nature of the educa-
tion here? What’s the nature of the special experiences? What sort
300 300 300 300 of person am I likely to become? What am I going to be capable of
doing when I graduate from this place? And what does that look
300 300
like relative to comparative costs and to net costs?’”
250 250 250 250
250 250 W hile colleges and universities feel their way across the
changing higher-education landscape, the terrain hasn’t
altered much for students and families struggling with the conun-
200 200 200 200 drum of needing degrees they can’t afford.
200 200 The grants, federal loans, federal work-study and federal tax
credits and deductions they receive—more than $143 billion during
the 2007–08 academic year, according to the College Board—rarely
150 150 150 150 cover all their costs. Two years ago, students borrowed about $19
150 150
billion from state and private sources to finance their educations,
and many then turned to credit cards to fill the remaining gap. A
100 100 100 100
2008 Sallie Mae study reports that 30 percent of undergraduates
100 100 used a credit card to pay tuition and almost one-fifth of college
seniors carried balances greater than $7,000.
Even those who aren’t funding college with credit cards or
50 5050 5050 50 loans from questionable sources feel the strain.
“My father told me, wherever you get in, I will pay the tuition.
He set the bar pretty high,” says Tom Cryer (BSBA ’76). “I wanted
to say the same to my kids.”
0 00 00 0
9-10
2009-10
2009-10 20042004
2004
05 0506050607
060708
0708 08 2004
2004 2004
05
05 0605 07
06 06
07 08
07 08 Cryer’s oldest, Caroline, graduated from Duke. His middle
son, William, is enrolled at Notre Dame. His youngest, Andrew,
starts DU this fall—but the economy is in a very different position
now than it was just four years ago.
“I sell real estate,” Cryer says. “When Caroline started at Duke
in 2005, we paid her tuition out of cash flow. It wasn’t a big deal.
This year we took money out of savings for the first time to pay
tuition.”
Knowing what their families are sacrificing to pay for college is
tough for some students to handle.
“I think this causes all of us to re-explore our values,” says
Jo Calhoun, associate provost for student life. “I think students,
in general, love being here, but they’re trying to be as thoughtful

34 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


“It’s imperative that higher ed respond in

ways that make higher education more

affordable for a very broad

socioeconomic distribution of

people,” Chancellor Coombe says.

degree, starting at a lower-priced community college, then transfer-


ring to a large public or private university.
Some, like Sajal Klee (MMP ’09), do all of the above. Home-
schooled through elementary and high school, Klee started mapping
a path to a college degree early in his senior year.
“Economics were a big consideration,” he says. “One of the
ways I saved money was to do two years at a community college to
fulfill all my general education requirements, then transfer to a uni-
versity for my junior year.”
Klee had DU, Metro State College and the University of
Colorado-Denver on his short list, but “DU would only be afford-
able if I could bring the costs similar to what CU-Denver would
be,” he says. “There are certain things that happen automatically
when you apply, but a lot of times it really does fall to the student
to lead the initiative. I took out federal loans and a couple of private
loans. I did work study in the financial aid office and I did DU’s
4+1 program to make everything work.”
as they can about how they can make ends meet and how they can Under the 4+1 program, Klee earned undergraduate and
graduate from DU.” graduate degrees simultaneously and retained access to undergradu-
During spring quarter 2008, the University created positions ate grants and scholarships from the school. He graduated in August
for two part-time student advocates whose sole purpose is to work with a BA in political science and public policy, a master’s in public
with students who are considering leaving DU because of financial policy, and about $45,000 in student debt.
concerns. According to a survey conducted by the Project on Student
“We connected the advocates with financial aid, mental health Debt, more than 50 percent of college graduates say the need to
services and student life, then we sent a notice to faculty, staff, RAs, pay back student loans is a significant consideration when making a
anybody in a student leadership role—literally everyone at the career decision. Even with student loan debt far below that of many
University we could think of—to let them know the student advo- of his peers, Klee is definitely part of that debt-conscious group. He
cates were available,” Calhoun says. drives his mother’s 10-year-old car, has no plans to buy a home any-
More than 40 students took advantage of the new resource in time soon and plans to live very frugally for the next few years while
the spring quarter alone, and administrators from other colleges have launching a career.
expressed interest in replicating the program on their campuses. “My dream job would be to be a senior adviser to the president.
“This was a really homegrown idea,” Calhoun says. “Because That’s what I’m shooting for,” Klee says.
of the size school that we are, we’re able to keep a handle on our To get there, he’ll need to go law school.
undergraduate student population. I don’t mean that we can identify “I’ve applied for three different financial aid advising jobs at
every student who’s leaving, but we have a good enough network George Washington University. The nice thing is, once I work there
that, if somebody’s struggling, there’s usually somebody who knows for six months, I get a tuition waiver so I’ll be able to go to law
it, be it a faculty member, a resident assistant or a student life staff school part time for free,” Klee says. “Again, it’s all about being pro-
member. We have that advantage.” active and looking at different avenues to finance an education.
“I mean, it is your college and your future. In my case, I’m not

W ithout question, the steps most incoming students take to


earn a degree will be far different than those taken just a
generation before.
going to sit around and wait for someone to tell me what I should
do or what I should look for.”

Some students work. Some sleuth out little-publicized fund-


For more information on scholarship fundraising activities, go to www.du.edu/magazine.
ing opportunities and then create a patchwork of loans, grants and Go to www.du.edu/annualreport to download the University’s 2007–08 annual report;
scholarships that meets their needs. Some take a circuitous route to a DU’s 2008–09 annual report will be released later this fall.

University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009 35


Excellence
By Greg Glasgow
Photos courtesy of DU Archives and DU Athletics Department

DU celebrates
60 years of
Pioneers
hockey.

Keith Magnuson (above) was a two-time All-American at DU and led the Pioneers to the national title in 1968
and 1969. His death in a car accident in 2003 helped spur the Pioneers to another NCAA victory—their first
since Magnuson left DU—in 2004.

36 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


on Ice
F
ootball may have left DU in 1961, but Pioneers
hockey more than filled the gap, going from an
athletic also-ran in the late 1940s to one of the
country’s most talked-about college programs in
the 1960s. The DU hockey program, which began in 1949,
celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.
The Pioneers are tied for second all-time in NCAA
Division I wins with seven NCAA Championships, includ-
ing back-to-back wins in 1960–61, 1968–69 and 2004–05.
DU battles archrival Colorado College every year
for the Gold Pan, a trophy that goes to the winner of the
annual series between the two local teams. (CC leads 10–6
in 16 years of Gold Pan competition.)
As part of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association
the Pioneers also have won 11 regular season champion-
ships (MacNaughton Cup) and 15 playoff championships
(Broadmoor Trophy).
Many Pioneers have gone on to play in the National
Hockey League, including Chicago Blackhawks great Keith
Magnuson (BSBA ’69), Hockey Hall-of-Famer Glenn DU hockey players Tim Gould (3), Keith Magnuson (2) and
Anderson (attd. 1979; played for the New York Rangers Dale Zeman (6) celebrate their 1969 NCAA victory (their
and Edmonton Oilers) and recent standouts Paul Stastny second in a row) by carrying head coach Murray Armstrong
(attd. 2004–06; Colorado Avalanche) and Matt Carle (attd. onto the ice after a championship game against Cornell in the
2003–06; Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks). In 2006, Broadmoor Arena in Colorado Springs.
Carle became the first DU player to win the prestigious
Hobey Baker Award, an annual honor given to the top
NCAA men’s hockey player.
Under coaches such as Vern Turner, Neil Celley,
Ralph Backstrom and the legendary Murray Armstrong,
the Pioneers played on the ice in the DU Arena until 1999,
Jim Wiste and Cliff Koroll celebrate the
when Magness Arena was completed. In 2004 the Pioneers
Pioneers’ 1968 NCAA victory.
had their most emotional victory, winning the school’s first
NCAA hockey championship in 35 years in memory of
former All-American Magnuson, who died in a car accident
in December 2003.
“Any program that has success, there is a certain
culture that is developed through the years that’s passed
from one player to the next,” says current coach George
Gwozdecky, who joined the Pioneers in 1994. “There’s a
tremendous amount of pride in the program that each and
every player helped build on.
“[Fifty years] is a long time for any program to be
around, and to be able to have the continual success that
this program has had over the years, it says a lot not only
about the commitment from the athletes and students but The 1949–50 University of Denver men’s ice hockey team poses for a group
from the University in general.” portrait with a Packard automobile at Reed Auto Sales in Denver.

University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009 37


Coach Murray
Armstrong led
the Pioneers to
six regular-season
conference titles,
two post-season
tournament
championships,
11 Frozen Four
appearances
and five NCAA
championships. He
was inducted into
the Colorado Sports
Hall of Fame in
Neil Celley was DU’s head 1974.
coach from 1951 to 1956.

Pioneers Head Coach George Gwozdecky came to DU in 1994 and led the team back to
national prominence. Under his leadership, the Pioneers won back-to-back NCAA national
championships in 2004 and 2005.

DU Captain Ryan Caldwell


presented President Bush
In 2006, Pioneer with a DU hockey jersey in
Matt Carle became 2004, the year the Pioneers
the first junior won the school’s first NCAA
defenseman—and hockey championship in 35
the first DU player— years.
to win the Hobey
Baker Award for the
top player in college
hockey.

38 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


The 2004–05 Pioneers team poses on the ice after its 4–1 win over
North Dakota. Head Coach George Gwozdecky is at far right.

DU alumnus Paul Stastny, who played for the Pioneers in 2004 and 2005, now plays for the
Colorado Avalanche.

A 60th anniversary DU hockey reunion is planned for


Oct. 9–11, 2009; visit www.dhaa.org for more information.
Matt Carle in action.

University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009 39


Wayne Armstrong
Baptist

preacher

Terrance Carroll

brings passion

and humility

to his

“other” job —

Colorado’s

Speaker of

the House.

Keeping the Faith


By Richard Chapman

40 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


D Deep in the stacks of Penrose Library are seven volumes of biography about the Founding Father who owned
Terrance Carroll’s great-grandfather.
The books have plenty to say about the owner, but the only place you might find Carroll’s ancestor mentioned is in
the slave manifests in the appendix, where 330 people are inventoried.
There’s nothing in the books about how Great-Grandfather Carroll came to be freed, or why he kept the name of
his owner as his own. They don’t tell about his life sharecropping with his son. Nor do they hint at how decades later,
this freed slave’s granddaughter, Corine Carroll, came to live in a tough neighborhood of Washington, D.C., where at
age 51 she bore Terrance and struggled to raise him as a single mom.
The biographies don’t explain how Terrance Carroll immunized himself against the sickness of the streets of south-
east Washington and made his way to Colorado to pursue a PhD. They don’t tell about his run for state legislature
or how in 2008 he was elected speaker of the House of Representatives—one of the four most powerful positions in
Colorado government.
None of the books point out that 266 paces north of the Penrose stacks, where the biographies sit unnoticed,
Terrance Carroll earned a law degree from the University of Denver in 2005.
Or that in Magness Arena, some 250 paces farther on, Carroll addressed the Sturm College of Law’s 2009 spring
graduating class as Commencement speaker.
Or that 80 years before Carroll became House speaker, the job was held by a Klansman.
The dusty biographies don’t tell any of that. They do speak of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, a 19th century “conser-
vative abolitionist” who was one of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence and who represented Maryland in
the Continental Congress and the U.S. Senate. They speak of how the famous statesman argued with Thomas Jefferson,
wrangled with Ben Franklin and might have been the nation’s second president instead of John Adams had he pursued
the job.
They tell of Charles Carroll’s importance as a Founding Father and his influence on Maryland. But then they stop,
unaware that five generations later and 1,658 miles away Carroll’s famous name is carried by another to new acclaim.
That the great-grandson of a Carroll plantation slave is courageously steering Colorado into the future.
That the Carroll story is still going on.
“I ran because I thought I would be a good speaker and would be able to do a good job for Colorado,” Terrance
Carroll says. “And my colleagues thought the same. When someone said, ‘Oh, you’re the first black speaker,’ I said,
‘Really?’
“As Dr. King said, we’ve moved toward looking at the content of a person’s character as opposed to the color of
their skin. That says a lot for Colorado.”

University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009 41


T
o find Speaker Carroll’s story you need to read the Karen Steinhauser doesn’t need convincing. The Sturm
newspapers and check the political blogs. Mostly, College of Law adjunct professor taught criminal procedure and
you need to sit in the gallery at the Capitol. From trial advocacy classes when Carroll was working in the legislature
that historic balcony you can see Terrance Carroll’s by day and taking law classes at night.
leadership in action, the strong arm of the 65-member House “He’s a natural leader,” she says. “He always had a smile and
swinging the gavel to reform education, involve parents in time for his classmates. He inspires confidence in people.”
schools, attract businesses to the state, cut unemployment, fine- Steinhauser, an attorney with Denver-based Isaacson
tune criminal justice, ease the effect of foreclosures and trim state Rosenbaum, believes Carroll’s perspectives benefited her classes
spending as revenue streams run low. greatly, even though Carroll says he tried not to dominate class
“I judge myself very harshly at times because I want to discussion. He didn’t want to be seen as “the politician who talks
do well,” Carroll says. “I understand the position I’m in, and I on everything.” But it was hard. Carroll was chairman of the
understand the times, and I don’t want to fail in the tasks ahead.” House Judiciary Committee in his last year at DU, so he’d often
Those tasks require one more year as speaker, the cap to a arrive at class still dripping with key state issues.
career in the legislature that began in 2003 representing House “It was a tough balancing act, especially after the Democrats
District 7, a stepladder of communities in northeast Denver that took the majority,” Carroll says. “I would constantly come into
includes Stapleton, Montbello, Green Valley Ranch, Montclair, class late, especially on nights when my committee met.”
Mayfair and parts of Park Hill. Steinhauser didn’t mind, nor did DU law Professor Tom
“I think House District 7 is one of the most diverse districts Russell, who taught American Legal History.
in the state,” Carroll says. “By looking at the microcosm of my “The last two speakers of the House [Carroll and Andrew
House district, it gives me a better perspective of how we should Romanoff] were students of mine,” Russell laughs. “So I like
improve the state at the same time.” to think that the road to the speaker’s office comes through my
Which is why Carroll put so much muscle behind bills to class.”
regulate mortgage brokers, create jobs and ease the impact of Carroll isn’t certain about that, but he is convinced that
foreclosures. what he learned at DU has helped him in the General Assembly.
“Montbello and Green Valley Ranch were hit tremendously Law school gave him an understanding of how lawyers look at
hard by bad mortgages: stated-income loans, balloon payments, law, he says, which helped in drafting bills and making sure the
adjustable-rate mortgages,” he says. “It’s a shame what some of legislature’s intent was clear.
those folks did up in that neck of the woods.” “The other benefit law school gave me was that I was able to
Carroll has no illusions about the number and magnitude have an analytical understanding of the law that went along with
of problems at the General Assembly’s feet. He believes firmly in the policy and political perspective of what we did crafting law. I
the legislature’s ability to right wrongs and provide relief, and he think that combination was very helpful.”
is cautious about legislative “tinkering” that can drown progress It’s what you might expect from a lawyer, but not necessarily
in a wave of reform. Which is why he comes at his job not as an from an ordained minister, which Carroll is. He also earned a
ideologue, but as a pragmatist, applying a lawyer’s reasoning, a master of divinity degree from the Iliff School of Theology in
scholar’s intellect and a preacher’s passion to the mission at hand. 1999.
It’s a self-confidence ignited by a tough upbringing and “I always felt like there was a call for me to the ministry,”
hardened by his mother’s cold-steel courage. Carroll says, noting that he preaches about four or five times a
“I learned how committed my mother was to my success year at Baptist churches throughout Denver.
when she went to school for a parent-teacher conference. The Carroll doesn’t impose his religion, but if you ask for his
teacher said, ‘You know, Mrs. Carroll, your son’s never going to favorite Bible passage, he doesn’t have to think very hard to come
amount to much because of where he grew up. He doesn’t have a up with one. It’s Micah 6:8: “What does the Lord require of you
father; you’re raising him and you don’t have a good education.’ but to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with the Lord
“And my mother, a very religious woman who didn’t have your God.”
any formal education but who was spunky and had a world of “That’s what I use as my guiding principle in dealing with
wisdom behind her from growing up on a sharecropping farm, people,” Carroll says. “I try to be as humble as I possibly can. Do
looked at this teacher and said, ‘My son will do great things justice and love mercy.”
because God has touched my son.’ And in his spare time ride bikes, both road and mountain;
“I’m maybe 7, 8 years old, [but] that story never left me. or relax with a copy of Jesus and the Disinherited, by role model
Despite our limited resources, my mother still had faith in me Howard Thurman; or zone out with a favorite TV show, which
that I could do great things.” until it was canceled after 15 seasons was “ER.”

42 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


Wayne Armstrong
When

someone

said,

‘Oh, you’re

the first

black

speaker,’

I said,

‘Really?’

Carroll’s favorite character? Dr. Peter Benton, played by Eriq But his Baptist faith won’t let him. Listen to him preach and
La Salle and described on the “ER” Web site as “a talented surgeon you’ll hear both urgency to action and abiding faith. His words
with a hot head.” sound like evangelism but they wear the cloth of the intellectual,
“I liked Dr. Benton because of the nature of how he grew up. not just the passion of the true believer. No TV-preacher tricks
He was an African-American character who managed to get out of here. Carroll’s message is a pledge to do more than wave Bibles at
a tough neighborhood. His mother had Alzheimer’s; my mother a “wretched, nasty, broken world”; it’s a promise to embrace life
had Alzheimer’s. I could identify with him, being a successful with diligent, consistent, zealous faith.
black man and how people misconstrued him as being possibly “I preached my mother’s funeral from this very pulpit,” he
arrogant.” tells followers at the New Hope Baptist Church in Denver on a
These days, Carroll’s shows of choice are “Grey’s Anatomy” bright morning in June. “That was probably one of the darkest
and “Kings,” a dramatization of the Book of Kings. times in my life.”
“Most people don’t get that I’m actually quite shy,” the Carroll tells of his mother’s love and guidance and the loss he
divorced 40-year-old says. “I love nothing more than to sit at felt at her passing. He speaks of his search for meaning, his quiet,
home by myself on the couch watching TV.” heartfelt words touching listeners, connecting deeply.

University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009 43


David Zalubowski/Associated Press
From left, Colorado House Rep. Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison, joins Speaker of the House Terrance Carroll and the Rev. James Peters during the Pledge of Allegiance at the
opening session of the Colorado Legislature on Jan. 7, 2009.

“Amens” pepper the sanctuary. The kind of leader who isn’t afraid to try a new idea or make
“I learned by my mother’s death that I had to untether myself a mistake, who calls himself an intellectual but regrets having
from what the world thought,” Carroll says, “and tie myself spent “way too much time in school”; who reads theology, quotes
explicitly to what God thought.” Thomas Jefferson and uses Twitter; who jokes that his mother
The “amens” grow more earnest. Carroll presses his message. never forgave him for weighing 10 pounds, 10 ounces at birth;
Proclaiming faith is hardest when times are rough, but that’s when and who affectionately tweaks friends like former state Senate
it’s most essential. President Peter Groff (JD ’92), now a member of the Obama
“Anybody can be a witness when things go good.” It’s when administration.
there’s turmoil “that you have to.” “My life was much easier when I wasn’t speaker,” Carroll
You think back to the $1.5 billion the legislature had to cut in tells the New Hope congregation. “I could actually sit down in a
2009 and you worry what’s in the cards for 2010. Sales tax revenue restaurant and eat a meal in peace and quiet. No one would come
is down and further cuts may be needed. How will Carroll’s up to me. Now folks walk up to me wherever I am and say, ‘I
evangelistic fervor echo in the Statehouse in January when the know you.’ Sometimes I pretend they don’t know me. I say, ‘I’m
120-day clock starts ticking and lawmakers bend to fixing an Peter Groff.’”
already-lean state? The congregation roars. They’ve heard Carroll joke before—
“The whole [2009] session could have blown up very easily,” about being “long-winded” in sermons; about church politics
recalls House Majority Leader Paul Weissmann, D-Louisville. being rougher than politics at the Capitol. They know that behind
“When you’re fighting over limited resources, it’s easy for things to the jokes is a leader who fights hard. For principle. For faith. For
get nasty real quick. That they didn’t is a testament to [Carroll].” opportunities for others.
Charisma helps, Weissmann adds. Not the John Elway kind “I’ve been given so much in my life,” Carroll told DU’s
that stops traffic, but the quiet, confident charm you warm to then 2009 law grads. “I once heard Dr. King say that the true measure
count on. The kind of relaxed, free-flowing temperament that of a person is where they stand in times of great challenge and
characterizes Carroll whether he’s running the House, preaching controversy. So I feel a special obligation to go out and fight ... for
the gospel or exhorting DU law grads to go out and fight for opportunity, for liberty, for justice.
liberty and opportunity. “To stand tall.”

44 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


48 Book bin
51 Class notes challenge
54 Pioneer pics
56 Death notices
58 Announcements
DU Archives

In June 1944, photos of the Pioneer Dudes and Dames, a student organization dedicated to square and
folk dancing, appeared in a Sunday issue of the Denver Post. The photo spread included several verses of
accompanying lyrics, including: “Ladies bow low and gents bow under, Hug those gals and swing like thunder,
(Maids went flying with their fellers, Long before we had propellers).” This photo was taken on the west side of
the Mary Reed Building. If you have any memories of student organizations you participated in or photos you
would like to share, please let us know.

University of Denver Magazine Connections 45


The classes
1942
Virginia (Raum)
Graduate Lloyd Hightower
Lacy (BA ’42) Lloyd Hightower
lives with her isn’t the typical graduate
oldest daughter in you’d see representing the
Pasadena, Calif. She Class of 2009.
enjoys spending her For one thing, he’s
time traveling and 87. Plus, Hightower
attending concerts
finished his DU business
and plays. In 2008, Virginia and her daughter
degree in 1951.
toured Greece and the surrounding islands.
This year the two plan to take a riverboat tour But 58 years later,
from Antwerp, Belgium, to Vienna, Austria. Hightower finally has a
diploma to prove it.
Hightower received
Wayne Armstrong

1946 the diploma during a


Anne Bihlmeyer (BS ’46) retired from ceremony at his Denver
being an assistant professor in 1981, married home on May 16. Daniels
in 1994 and became a widow in 2008. Anne College of Business Professor Barbara Kreisman presented Hightower his diploma in
currently resides in Hartford, Conn., and front of his cheering family.
would like to hear from any of her 1946
Hightower, though, was shocked. The whole thing was a surprise.
classmates.
“It bloomed from a little family gathering but turned into a big family reunion,”
daughter Patty Matson says, adding that her father thought it was a gathering
1950 to celebrate his 87th birthday. Hightower’s children, grandchildren and great-
grandchildren flew in from across the country to watch him receive the diploma.
Keith Hendee (BA ’50) and Ellen Hendee
(attd. 1944–45) live Hightower attended DU on the GI Bill after he returned home from World War II.
in Pompano Beach, But in February 1951, he was called up as a pilot for the Korean War, months short of
Fla. Keith has fond graduation. He finished his finals with correspondence courses, “but I lost contact with
memories of his time them, and they lost contact with me, so I never got my degree.”
at DU and wanted Until now.
to share this photo “Everybody hummed ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ as I walked out to the backyard,
of him and Ellen on
attired in my doctoral cap and gown,” Kreisman says. “Lloyd just stood there, in front of
Pioneer Day during
about 25 people, and was totally stunned. We had him slip into the gown, then I draped
the 1940s. Although Keith says he sometimes
wishes he lived closer to DU, a trip to the hood over his shoulders and everybody clapped.”
Colorado before Christmas to visit his son After receiving a matted and framed diploma—a BS in business management—
in Fort Collins convinced him otherwise, Hightower took off his cap and tossed it in the air.
as he experienced record-setting subzero “It was the biggest surprise of my life,” Hightower says.
temperatures. The fact that he never received a physical diploma has always weighed on his
mind.

1963 “He really wanted a diploma,” Matson says. “He mentioned it all the time.”
Enough times that Matson decided it needed to happen, so she called DU early
Paul Coffee (BS ’63) was appointed senior this year and got the diploma a couple of months ago.
vice president and managing director for
Now, though, the “family joke” is over, Hightower says.
Stifel, Nicolaus & Co. Rocky Mountain
“When I moved back to Denver [from Missouri] with my wife in 1977, DU would
Region. Paul comes to Stifel after 34 years
at A.G. Edwards/Wachovia Securities, where send me these publications in the mail, or cards asking about donations. I thought,
he served as the Western regional director, ‘They can find me for donations and all that, but not for my degree,’” he laughs.
overseeing 70 offices. He resides in Littleton, He’s probably prouder than most graduates this year.
Colo. “He was absolutely thrilled,” Matson says.
“I’m very grateful for the education I received, and I got to expand on my
knowledge of aviation,” says Hightower, a retired pilot.
“It only took me about 60 years to get my degree,” he says. “But I have it.”
—Kathryn Mayer

46 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


William Cross Jr. (BA ’63) was the recipient 1964 a six-week trip with his wife, Judy, to 10
of the 2009 Social Justice Education Award, Emily Morrison countries in South America, Africa and
which is given annually by Columbia (BA ’64) is a retired Europe. When not traveling, they reside in
University’s Teacher College. Georgia education administrator Ashland, Ore.
Southern University has created a lecture from Tucson, Ariz.
series in his name. Also, William gave the Since graduation Emily
W.W. Law Lecture as part of the annual has been busy serving 1967
Savannah Heritage Festival. William resides in as a board member Linda Brott (BSBA ’67) has retired from
Henderson, Nev. and chair for several a career in public relations in Arizona and
organizations. She and her husband have Colorado. Linda resides in Fort Collins,
Marlow Ediger (EdD ’63) of North Newton, two daughters and four grandchildren. Colo., where she enjoys playing golf,
Kan., published the following articles: volunteering and crafts.
“Scope in the Social Studies” in Edutracks;
“Motivating Student Learning in Science” in 1966 John Grassby (JD ’67) began his career as a
the CT Journal of Science Education; “Reading Dennis Powers (JD corporate anti-trust counsel for IBM before
in the Social Studies” in the Florida Council ’66) has published his opening a law firm in Steamboat Springs,
Social Studies Newsletter; “Modern School 10th book. Titled Taking Colo., where he resides. John is on the
Mathematics” in the College Student Journal; the Sea (AMACOM, AAA International Roster of Mediators and
“Reading and Writing Poetry” in the Reading 2009), the novel is Arbitrators and is on the 2022 Committee,
Council Journal; “The Student, School, and about old-time ship which mediates cross-border commercial
Society” in Experiments in Education; and salvagers. Dennis disputes.
“Writing, the Pupil, and the Social Studies” in recently returned from
Society and the Environment.

Hall of Famer Chuck Ferries


Even though Chuck Ferries has spent much of his life racing down mountains, his life has been
anything but downhill.
“I’ve done pretty much whatever I wanted to do my whole life, so I guess you’d say I was
free-spirited,” says Ferries, a Pioneers skier who helped lead the 1961 and 1963 teams to NCAA
championships and who was inducted into the Colorado Ski Hall of Fame in October 2008.
That free spirit emerged early for Ferries. At age 16, he jumped out of his bedroom window in
Michigan with about $200 in his pocket and took a train to Utah for skiing lessons, only to return
home a few weeks later with a broken leg.
But he returned west to finish his senior year of high school in Aspen, Colo., so he could
get in-state tuition at the University of Colorado. That didn’t work either—instead he won a
scholarship to the University of Denver.
“At DU, I could take winters off to ski because it was on the quarter system, and Willy
[Schaeffler, DU’s ski coach] was very, very good,” Ferries says.
Nancy Ferries

The move put him in the DU history books. Aside from appearing on a 1963 Sports
Illustrated cover with the headline “Best U.S. Skier,” he became the only American ever to win the
Hahnenkamm slalom in Kitzbuehel, Austria, and he skied in the 1960 and 1964 Olympic games.
He says the NCAA championship wins over CU were “great fun … we were friends with [the CU skiers], but we were taught it was
always more fun to win.”
Hennie Kashiwa, DU’s assistant Nordic ski coach, says Ferries left a lasting impression on DU skiing.
“He made a huge impact at DU, and he’s been a great supporter of DU skiing for a long time,” Kashiwa says.
Today, Ferries, 69, lives in Sun Valley, Idaho, and still skis occasionally. He says he was “a couple of credits short” of actually
graduating from DU in the 1960s.
His advice for skiers at the start of this ski season: “Take a lesson, have fun and watch out for the snowboarders.”
—Doug McPherson

University of Denver Magazine Connections 47


Nicholas Moussis (PhD ’67) has worked 1972 Susan Tucker (MA ’73) edited the book
with the European Commission in Grayson Drexel (BA New Orleans Cuisine: Fourteen Signature Dishes
Brussels. After having occupied various ’72) has joined Wachovia and Their Histories (UP of Mississippi, 2009).
posts, he retired in 2000 as an adviser to the Securities as senior vice Each chapter is dedicated to a quintessential
commission. Nicholas has written many president of investments New Orleans food and contains essays on the
books and articles about European Union in Evergreen, Colo. production and reception of the city’s food
legislation and policies. His book Access Grayson specializes culture. Susan is the curator of books and
to European Union: Law, Economics, Policies in investment growth records at the Newcomb Center for Research
(Rixensart: European Study Service, 2008) and income strategies. on Women at Tulane University in New
has been translated into 14 languages, Grayson also serves as a member of the board Orleans, where she resides.
and he recently launched a Web site, of directors of Mt. Evans Hospice and Home
www.europedia.moussis.eu, based on the Health Care. Paula Underwood (BS ’73) took command
book. He resides in London. of the U.S. Army medical treatment facility
in Heidelberg, Germany, on June 26, 2009.
1973
1968 Terrence Toy (PhD
Larry Tomsic (BA ’68) left his corporate ’73) of Bemus Point, 1975
position to serve San Francisco’s privately N.Y., was the 2008 T.J. De Soto (MBA ’75) of Danville, Calif.,
held and growth-oriented businesses as CFO recipient of the is now a client director for Dimension Data.
on an as-needed basis. Larry brings more William T. Plass He spent the last 30 years in the information
than 24 years of experience to the part-time Award, given by the technology business in sales and management
job with B2B CFO. Larry resides in San American Society capacities. T.J. is eager to hear from alumni
Francisco and is passionate about community of Mining and Reclamation. The award who graduated from the 1975 MBA program.
outreach. is the society’s most prestigious lifetime
achievement award for overall career Theodore Thomas (BS ’75) was appointed
accomplishments in reclamation. chief of staff for the Scripps Mercy Hospital
1969
John Wren (BA ’69, MBA ’80) of Denver
has formed the Denver Startup Forum, a
community of practice for entrepreneurs,
business owners and their advisers.
Book bin
“I am seastruck—someone entranced by great and small waters

1970 alike,” reads the author’s note in Seaborn (Roaring Book Press, 2008),
a young-adult novel by Craig Moodie (BA English ’78).
Freddy Bosco (BA ’70) published his second
book, Neurotic Meditation: The Spiritual Journey After his mother abruptly moves out prior to the family’s annual
of Chauncy Farnsworth IV (Publish America, sailing trip, 16-year-old Luke and his angry and confused father set
2008). Freddy also writes a weekly column out alone on the weeklong voyage. The routine journey becomes
for the Denver Daily News and is employed by a fight for survival when an unexpected summer storm pulls Luke’s
CHARG Resource Center in Denver, where
father overboard. Without anyone to rely on or any knowledge of his
he resides.
father’s condition, Luke must figure out how to navigate himself to
safety.
1971 As the book explores typical feelings associated with teenage
Bill Hopkins (JD ’71) angst—dislocation, confusion and anger—it offers possible solutions. Only by accepting the unavoid-
of Marble Hill, Mo., able circumstances before him, both in terms of his oceanic entrapment and his familial turmoil, can
had his play The Almond
Luke hope to move forward.
Checkmate produced by
First Run Theatre of Rather than paralyzing him with fear, the harsh reality of Luke’s predicament brings him clarity,
St. Louis. One of Bill’s and he realizes that his attitude toward his life and family have been misguided. At that moment,
three-act plays, Cotton Luke becomes “seaborn.”
Lesson, was a finalist in Moodie’s affinity for the ocean began while he was growing up in Cape Cod, Mass., where he
the 2007 playwriting competition sponsored
spent his spare time exploring beaches and coves with friends and family. Later, as an adolescent
by First Run Theatre. It is still being
developed for production. and adult, Moodie made a living working as a deckhand aboard commercial fishing vessels.
His reverence for the ocean’s beauty and his understanding of its power has influenced many
of his books, including Salt Luck, A Sailor’s Valentine and Our Perfect Youth.
Moodie lives with his wife and children in Franklin, Mass., and works as a creative director for
the EMC Corp. in Westborough, Mass.
—Samantha Stewart

48 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


in San Diego, where he resides. Theodore 1979 Kuwait’s Parliament. Masoumah also is the
has been practicing at Scripps Mercy Hospital Carol Fenster (PhD ’79) published her first woman to be appointed as minister of
since 1987 and is board certified in internal eighth gluten-free cookbook, 1,000 planning and minister of health in Kuwait.
medicine and nephrology. He and his wife, Gluten-Free Recipes (Wiley, 2008), and
Inez, have two college-aged daughters, launched www.gfreecuisine.com and Mary Carraher (MSW ’81) of Loveland,
both of whom were born at Scripps Mercy www.glutenfree101.com. Carol lives in Colo., was recognized by her alma mater for
Hospital. Centennial, Colo., and works for Savory her commitment to single parents in need
Palate Inc. as an author and consultant. and her work at the nonprofit Project Self
Sufficiency.
1976
Chris Meeks (BA ’76) recently released a 1980 James Strickland (MSW ’81) of Dublin,
novel that features the University of Denver Ricardo Dadoo (BSBA ’80) of Mexico Ga., recently completed his PhD in holistic
in a few of its chapters. The novel is titled The City sold his start-up company, Logistics ministries and has published his first book,
Brightest Moon of the Century (White Whisker Assistance, and has started a new company Hospice—A Holistic Journey Through the Shadow
Books, 2009). Chris lives in Los Angeles. in the logistics industry, Logistics Dadoo. of Death (Outskirts Press, 2009).
Ricardo enjoys running, golf, the Broncos,
skiing, a good book and Mad magazine. He
1977 would love to visit Denver and would like to 1984
Chris West (BA ’77) of receive a note from Adde and Halleh. Laurie (Younggren) Goodman (BA ’84)
Darien, Conn., and his was elected to the Board of Education in
hockey team recently Ridgewood, N.J. Laurie is a freelance writer
finished second in the 1981 and lives in Ridgewood with her husband, Paul
USA Hockey Nationals Masoumah Al-Mubarak (MA ’81, PhD Goodman (BA ’84), and son, Pete. Laurie and
over-50 division. He ’82) of Safat, Kuwait, has become one Paul’s daughter, Marya, is a sophomore at the
is looking forward to a of the first four women to be elected to University of New Hampshire.
win next year.

Reunion recap Quotable notes


In March of 2009, these alumni got together for a ski trip in Aspen, Thank you to everyone who responded to the spring
Colo. Although they all live far away from one another, they quickly dusted issue’s question of the hour: How did you celebrate your
off memories from their days at DU when they joined together again. Back graduation?
row, from left: Erik Friis of Oslo, Norway; William Wittusen (BSBA ’02) of
Englewood, Colo.; Marius Piene (BSBA ’01) of Oslo, Norway; Tyler Craig “With my mom and Bob Perito (also ’64), who was then
(BSBA ’01) of New York City; Max Mulligan (BSBA ’99) of Middlesex, United my boyfriend.”
Kingdom; Jayme Smithers (BSBA ’01) of Vancouver, British Columbia; David Emily (Kittle) Morrison (BA ’64)
Viele (MBA ’01) of Vail, Colo.; and Camilla McKee Lund (BSBA ’02) (kneeling) Tucson, Ariz.
of Oslo, Norway.
“My best friend, Grace Whiteley, and our families
PHOTO: F09 Reunions.jpg celebrated.”
Paula Underwood (BS ’73)
Woodbridge, Va.

“Very stressful. April 1980, I graduated a quarter early


because I attended summer school in 1978. There was no
activity. I was more interested in passing Maclyn Clouse’s
make-up final exam on Corporate Finance as he was nice
enough to give me a second chance at life.”
Ricardo Dadoo (BSBA ’80)
Mexico City

University of Denver Magazine Connections 49


1985 1988 Ernest Pelikan (BA ’88) is the executive
Ahmad Ismail (MA ’85) of Petaling Tay, Virginia McCann (MSW ’88) of Denver director of the Putnam Land Conservancy, a
Malaysia, has been appointed mayor of received the Distinguished Alumnus Award land trust in Palatka, Fla.—a small town about
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ahmad has been for 2008–09 from the Department of 50 miles south of Jacksonville. Previously,
a Malaysian administrative and diplomatic Psychology at Metropolitan State College Ernest was executive director of the Friends
service officer for 32 years and the secretary of Denver. Virginia was recognized for her of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia and policy
general of the housing and local government volunteerism around the world during and director for Scenic America in Washington,
ministry since January 2006. after Hurricane Katrina. D.C., after changing careers from practicing
law. Ernest resides in Palatka.
Scott Menefee (BSBA ’88) of Golden,
1986 Colo., is the vice president of real estate Cindy (Murr) Rayfield (BA ’88) recently
John Sleeman (JD ’86) of Denver was for Opus Northwest, a development firm. accepted a position at FranNet Colorado
appointed managing senior associate He is currently working on the Pinnacle at as franchise consultant. She provides free
university counsel for the University of City Park South and recently completed the guidance and support to individuals who
Colorado at Boulder. John served as the penthouses of 1400 Wewatta and Wynkoop are interested in career alternatives through
deputy attorney general for state services in Residences in lower downtown Denver. franchised business ownership. Cindy resides
the Colorado Attorney General’s office. in Englewood, Colo.

Gardener Diane Stahl

Samantha Stewart
Diane Stahl (BA anthropology and psychology ’80) used to amuse
her coworkers with her vacation plans. Instead of plane tickets and
a passport, Stahl’s itinerary involved seed packets and a spade. The
backyard of her Washington Park home substituted for an exotic locale.
Now, as the owner of Urban Roots, Stahl no longer has to leave
work to indulge in her passion for plants.
Urban Roots, located on the corner of 10th and Acoma streets
in Denver, specializes in small-space urban gardening. Stahl’s decades
of experience have taught her about the challenges that come with
gardening in urban settings—including heat, wind, pollution, old sewer
lines, deep tree roots and limited space—and how to overcome them.
“You don’t just buy a plant from Urban Roots,” says Melissa
(Goldman) Turner (BA ’79, MBA ’83), a longtime friend and customer
of Stahl’s. “Diane makes sure customers know how to care for the plant, that they have the right soil or plant food and that the customer is
purchasing a plant that works best for the environment or their living situation.”
Urban Roots also offers on-site consultations and strives to ensure that landscaping designs complement the client’s home décor.
While Stahl has wanted to open a gardening store since college, the impetus for opening Urban Roots came during a vacation she took
with her husband in 2000.
The couple visited Claude Monet’s garden in Giverny, France, and while she was sitting on the famous arched bridge, something inside
Stahl clicked.
“It was so peaceful and so [emotional] for me. It was kind of like when you’re falling in love, you just kind of did it,” Stahl says. “I just
remember saying, ‘I want to be here. I want to work here. … I want to learn.’”
Two years later, she left her corporate fundraising position and opened Urban Roots.
“I wasn’t interested so much in opening a business. I was more interested in helping people learn how to garden in the downtown
corridor,” Stahl says.
But the business, now in its eighth year, has thrived thanks to Stahl’s customer-centric approach.
“She is a woman I admire so much,” says local resident and customer Rhonda Knop. “She gets to live her passion.”
As she sits in a wicker patio chair surrounded by an eclectic assortment of planters and plants, seeds and seedlings, it’s easy to see that
Stahl finds her life extremely fulfilling.
“Gardening is really spiritual. It connects us with our Earth and our heart. It really grounds us,” she says. “That’s why people love to
garden.”
—Samantha Stewart

50 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


1989
John McGuigan (BA ’89, MA ’97) and his
wife, Mary, co-curated and contributed to the
catalogs for two art exhibitions that opened
in New York: “James E. Freeman, 1801-84:
An American Artist in Italy”; and “America’s
Rome: Artists in the Eternal City, 1800-1900.”
John and Mary, both art historians, specialize
in 19th century American artists who worked

1989 Kynewisbok
in Italy. The couple resides in Isle of Palms,
S.C.

Class notes challenge


Chris Romero (BA ’89, MS ’91) recently
was appointed dean of instruction for transfer
education at Front Range Community
College, Larimer Campus, in Fort Collins,
Colo. Chris has been a faculty member in Class of 1989: A lot can happen in 20 years, and we want to catch up with as many of
biology at the college for the past 12 years. He you as we can. Your classmates want to hear from you, too!
successfully defended his doctoral dissertation What have you been up to? Share photos and family news, discuss your travels and
in February, graduating in May 2009 with
hobbies, or reminisce about your time at DU.
a PhD in education from Colorado State
University. You can post your note online at www.alumni.du.edu, e-mail du-magazine@du.edu, or
mail in the form on page 54. Class of ’89 notes will appear in the spring issue. We’ll randomly
select a prize winner from all entries received by Nov. 1.
1990
Steve Vickner (MBA ’90) and hundreds of
other cyclists raised funds for cancer research

Money matters
by riding 180 miles in two days in August
2009. In October, Steve will pedal more
than 500 miles in a weeklong trip from San
Francisco to Los Angeles to raise funds for
Recent market activity has forced investors to examine their investment strategies. The
the Arthritis Foundation. In his personal
journey in life, he just passed another volatility provides an opportunity for people to evaluate how much risk they can withstand and
milestone—seven years cancer free. Steve, reminds them that financial health must be constantly assessed.
who resides in Columbus, Ohio, is the chair It’s also a good time to make sure your financial adviser is familiar with your unique circum-
of the MBA program at Franklin University. stances. With complex issues like wealth management in a volatile market, a close relationship
He is also the founder of OutdoorMetrics, an will produce better returns because your adviser truly understands your needs. The adviser transi-
economic research consultancy focused on tions from a wealth consultant to a wealth advocate.
environmental policy, sustainable management There are three characteristics to evaluate when selecting an investment adviser: effective
of natural resources and market research for listening, account approach and proactive asset allocation.
the outdoor recreation industry. First, an adviser may make imprudent investments if he doesn’t carefully listen to his
client’s story. This includes family dynamics, legacy ideas and charitable interests. Having a
Patricia “Patty” Wellinger (MA ’90, JD
thorough understanding of the client’s goals, beliefs and circumstances is paramount when
’90, MA ’93, MAC ’02) of Aurora, Colo.,
is the reference services coordinator at the creating a customized plan.
Westminster Law Library. Patty will be the Second, having a team of experts focused on the client’s wealth is instrumental. The team
2009–10 chair of the grants committee for approach provides access to multiple professionals who understand client goals and can bring spe-
the American Association of Law Libraries. cific expertise to the investor’s overall financial well-being.
She is also co-chair of the 2009–10 local Finally, asset allocation must be forward-looking and nimble in order to react to the fast-
arrangements committee for the national law paced environment of information transfer and the ever-increasing global market. History can be
library conference that will be held in Denver a useful indicator, but if a wealth manager is making decisions solely based on what has happened
in July 2010. Patty is involved in DU’s before, he will undoubtedly miss what is occurring right in front of him.
Connecting Staff Women group and in her Your relationship with your investment adviser is one of the most important business
spare time she shows her Burmese mountain
partnerships you will ever have. When choosing an adviser, it is wise to consider who best under-
dog in rally and obedience.
stands your unique wealth management needs and will serve as an advocate in making financial
dreams a reality.

John Trujillo (BSBA ’95) is a senior portfolio manager with UMB Asset Management in Denver. E-mail him at
John.Trujillo@umb.com.

University of Denver Magazine Connections 51


1992
Entrepreneur Jason Wanderer
Jean Fujikawa (BS ’92) is the GIS/database
manager for the Oahu Invasive Species
Committee. The Environmental Systems
Research Institute (ESRI) presented the Oahu
For the 2004 Super Bowl Invasive Species Committee with a 2008
halftime show, producers wanted Special Achievement in GIS Award at the
3,000 Houston-area children to annual ESRI International User Conference
simultaneously swarm the playing field in San Diego. The award honors organizations
to cheer on the performers. But who that make significant contributions to society
could they call upon to orchestrate such through their use of geographic information
ordered chaos? systems. Jean resides in Honolulu.
As the founder of Precision Event
Group, an event-management and Matthew Phillips (BA ’92, MS ’95) and Calysta
Phillips are proud to announce the birth of a
experiential marketing agency, Jason
baby boy, Sebastian Drake Phillips. Their son
Wanderer (BA social sciences ’97)
was born on April 28, 2009, in Ketchum, Idaho,
knows how to make the impossible where they reside. Their other child, Isabelle
possible. Claire, was born Aug. 2, 2006.
He considers his role in the 2004
Courtesy of Jason Wanderer

Super Bowl the most rewarding project


in a long line of successful projects 1993
for clients including MTV, Universal Greg Cohen (BA ’93) of Los Angeles organized
Pictures, Disney, Pepsi and Glamour a benefit for autism in conjunction with Autism
magazine. Speaks and NBC’s show “Heroes.” The event
Despite his company’s meteoric rise in the industry, the 33-year-old from East raised awareness and funds for autism research.
Greg works in the camera department on
Brunswick, N.J., says he never expected this level of success.
“Heroes” and is a professional photographer.
“It’s surreal, but I feel like I started back in 1993. I had four years of real-world
experiences in college,” Wanderer says, referring to his extracurricular activities at Cynthia “Paige” Stoyer (BA ’93) of Portland,
DU that laid the foundation for his career. Ore., had her collaborative photography project
Eager to work in the top tier of event management, Wanderer moved to Los “The Long Journey: Surviving Domestic
Angeles in 1999. There, he found lucrative, albeit exhausting, employment that left Violence” exhibited on March 17 at the New
him burnt out after only two years. School Aaronson Galleries in New York City.
After taking a brief reprieve from the real world, Wanderer intended to look for The exhibit documented the daily lives of
work. Instead, work found him as former clients solicited him to manage various women victimized by domestic violence and
projects and events. Wanderer reluctantly founded Precision in 2001 at the urging of included photographs taken by the women
his accountant, who told him, “Like it or not, you have a business.” themselves. Paige, in partnership with
Sanctuary for Families (a nonprofit dedicated to
From there Precision evolved into one of the country’s premier event-
helping victims of domestic violence), worked
management and marketing agencies, with offices in Beverly Hills, Calif., and New
with the women for nine months and taught
York City. them photographic techniques.
Unlike a party-planning agency, Precision conceives and produces events
intended to translate the marketing goals and brand messages of its clients into real-
life experiences. 1994
“The challenge for us is finding ways to do things that haven’t been done Patty Cockell (MBA
before,” Wanderer says. “Our clients rely on us to give them events that are ’94) joined Wachovia
pressworthy and cutting-edge.” Securities in Greenwood
In 2008, Precision was named one of the top 100 event agencies in the country Village, Colo., as the
by Event Marketer magazine and one of the top 50 event companies by Special Events associate vice president
of investments. She
magazine.
previously lived in
Despite these accolades, Wanderer’s goals have remained modest.
Monument, Colo.,
“We’re not looking to be on the New York Stock Exchange,” he says. “We’re and worked for Smith
looking to be a medium-size business that produces quality, large-scale events. We Barney. Patty has more
want to continue with our stable of clients that we enjoy working with and projects than 18 years of experience in the financial
that we enjoy working on.” services industry.
—Samantha Stewart

52 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


Alison Kane (BBA ’94) of Littleton, Colo., he resides. His practice focuses on patent 1997
joined the Denver Newspaper Agency prosecution and intellectual property law. Antone “Tripp” Baltz (MLS ’97) of Arvada,
as the senior vice president of interactive Stanley was formerly with Merchant and Colo., recently published a book, The Pro’s
media. An expert in online media innovation Gould PC and prior to that with Gibson, Pro: Warren Smith, Golf Professional (Outskirts
and monetization, Alison has 25 years Dunn and Crutcher LLP. Press, 2008). The book includes interviews
of experience with strategic marketing, with Arnold Palmer and others about Smith,
technology and operational expertise. She Andrew Murray (MBA ’96) of Arvada, who was the head professional at Cherry Hills
previously worked for Local Matters, a Colo., joined Valen Technologies as the Country Club from 1963–91 and the 1978
Denver-based technology solutions and executive vice president and chief financial PGA of America Professional of the Year.
online media company, where she was officer. Andrew will oversee all of the
executive vice president for online media. company’s financial and legal interests, Camsie Matis (BA ’97) has been selected
human resources, investor relations and from a pool of 500 educators nationwide to
administration services. He has more than receive the Albert Einstein Distinguished
1996 25 years of technology industry and financial Educator Fellowship. Camsie will be
Stanley Gradisar (JD ’96) recently formed experience. working for the National Science Foundation.
his own law firm, Stanley J. Gradisar Attorney She resides in Brooklyn, N.Y.
at Law, located in Castle Rock, Colo., where

Foodies Noah Stephens and Emily Welch


It may have taken a jaunt across the Atlantic Ocean for Noah
Stephens (BA art history ’05) and Emily Welch (BA international studies
’06) to cross paths, but when they did, the two alums formed a friendship
over food.
The two met in Paris after they graduated from DU. Both were
attending culinary school. After they finished, they returned home—
Stephens to Minnesota and Welch to San Francisco—to work at
restaurants.
But Stephens wanted to bring European-style cuisine to Denver. He
bought a space in the West Washington Park area, oversaw construction
for eight months, went antiquing every day for a month to create the
right atmosphere and asked Welch to join in the project.
Voila! Vert Kitchen, located at 704 S. Pearl St., opened in February
2009.
With just 13 seats and about 750 square feet, the location is small
but ideal, the owners say.
Wayne Armstrong

“We really wanted to be a part of this community,” Stephens says.


It’s easy to see the French influence on the shop. The décor evokes
a small Parisian bistro and the food is “most definitely” influenced by
traditional French cuisine, Stephens and Welch say.
The turkey sandwich (their most popular item) comes with figs, chevre and pine nuts; a skirt steak sandwich includes arugula and walnut
mustard; and a lemon tuna confit features albacore, chervil, cucumber and Greek yogurt. Their personal favorite, they say, is the tortilla
Española, a classic Spanish dish.
“We’re still working on getting that recipe as authentic as possible,” Welch says.
Vert, which means green in French, signals the duo’s desire to keep their business organic.
“You have to put love in your food,” Stephens explains. For them, love means using fresh, local, organic ingredients.
“It’s better for the environment,” Welch adds. “It’s important to me. I don’t like to eat chemicals in my food.”
Stephens handles day-to-day operations while Welch is in charge of ordering the food. Vert has just one other employee, so most of the
work rests on the pair’s shoulders.
“It’s all been fun,” Stephens says, adding that he’s forgotten all about the hard parts of managing a business. “When a customer’s plate
comes back completely clean, that’s when I’m happiest.”
—Kathryn Mayer

University of Denver Magazine Connections 53


Pioneer pics Alumni Symposium
DU alumni have the chance to return to the classroom and be students for a
weekend at the third annual Alumni Symposium, running Oct. 2–3 on campus.
“It was an idea of the chancellor and others at the University to ensure that
we had a program that really showcased our outstanding faculty as well as offered
a lifelong-learning opportunity to our alums,” says Jeffrey Howard, executive
director of alumni relations.
“It also serves as a platform to invite back some of our most prestigious
alums to talk about what their University of Denver experience was like and how
it helped them.”
During the two-day event, alumni have the chance to participate in classes
taught by DU faculty. This year’s list of topics is expected to include the 2008
financial breakdown, Caribbean steel drums, civic leadership, professional ethics
Kathleen (DeLio) LaForte (BSBA ’83) was recently in and more.
Harbin, China, judging the singles and pairs figure skating portion “The symposium allows alumni to connect back directly to the classroom,
of the World University Games. LaForte works for 9News as in terms of what DU’s current students are hearing and learning,” Howard
sales research director, but in her spare time she volunteers as an says. “It also allows the faculty to talk about the issues of the day with alumni.
official for U.S. Figure Skating and the International Skating Union. It’s definitely a format that allows for discussion, versus faculty just giving a
As you pioneer lands far and wide, be sure to pack your presentation.”
DU gear and strike a pose in front of a national monument, the In addition to time in the classroom, attendees also will have the opportunity
fourth wonder of the world or your hometown hot spot. If we to listen to keynote addresses by prominent alumni. This year’s keynote speakers
print your submission, you’ll receive some new DU paraphernalia are Roger Birnbaum (attd. 1968–71), a film producer whose credits include The
courtesy of the DU Bookstore. Sixth Sense, Bruce Almighty and 27 Dresses; and Cindy Courville (MA ’80, PhD
Send your print or high-resolution digital image and a ’88), who was the first U.S. ambassador to the African Union.
description of the location to: Pioneer Pics, University of Denver The symposium is open to all alumni; admission is free, but registration is
Magazine, 2199 S. University Blvd., Denver, CO 80208-4816, or required.
e-mail du-magazine@du.edu. Be sure to include your full name, >>303-871-2701; www.du.edu/alumnisymposium
address, degree(s) and year(s) of graduation. —Media Relations Staff

Contact us
Tell us about your Name (include maiden name)
career and personal DU degree(s) and graduation year(s)
accomplishments, awards, Address
births, life events or
City
whatever else is keeping
State ZIP code Country
you busy. Do you support
Phone Fax
a cause? Do you have
E-mail
any hobbies? Did you just
return from a vacation? Let Employer Occupation
us know! Don’t forget to What have you been up to? (Use a separate sheet if necessary.)
send a photo. (Include a
self-addressed, postage-paid
envelope if you would like Question of the hour: Who was your favorite professor and why?
your photo returned.)

Post your class note online at www.alumni.du.edu, e-mail du-magazine@du.edu or mail your note to: Class Notes,
University of Denver Magazine, 2199 S. University Blvd., Denver, CO 80208-4816.
54 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009
Bookstore
www.dubookstore.com
Flaunt your
Pioneer spirit.
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University of Denver Magazine Connections 55


2002 Amy Larson (BA ’04) of Denver was a Melanie Spence (MA ’05) of McLean, Va., is
Kimberly Albanes (JD ’02) married Andrew producer for KBDI-Channel 12’s award- an associate program manager for Population
Scott Ginsburg on April 4, 2009, at the winning special “Snapshots From DNC.” Services International, a Washington, D.C.-
Vanderbilt Mansion at Fisher Island Hotel and The award for the best news or public- based nonprofit that helps with social
Resort in Miami Beach, Fla. Until recently, affairs special for TV was received at the marketing and health behavior changes in 60
Kimberly was an associate at the law firm 2009 Colorado Broadcasters Association’s developing countries. Melanie is responsible
Greenberg Trauig, where she specialized in Celebration of Excellence Gala. for the West and Central Africa region.
land use and environmental law. She resides
in Miami Beach with her husband.
2005 2006
Joseph Labrecque (MA ’02) of Thornton, Patricia Bennett (MSW ’05) of Denver Lauren (Wax)
Colo., was appointed an Adobe Higher started Colorado Youth at Risk, a community- Casady (BSBA
Education Leader by Adobe Systems Inc. based mentoring program that seeks to ’06) married
produce lifelong growth for young people. Richard “Ricky”
Leah (Fessinger) Press (BA ’02) and her Casady (BS ’06)
husband, Craig, welcomed their son, Caleb Jeff Grabner (BSBA ’05) of Chagrin Falls, on Oct. 25, 2008,
Eli, on Feb. 23, 2009, in St. Louis, where the Ohio, is responsible for pushing the company at St. Elizabeth’s
couple resides. Leah and Craig are originally Cardinal Fastener into the wind energy of Hungary in
from Scottsdale, Ariz. industry. Jeff works for Cardinal Fastener Denver. Ricky
in the outside sales department and fielded is the regional
questions from President Obama’s transition director of ticketing for Live Nation and
2004 team before the president’s visit to the Lauren is in sales and marketing. The couple
Jamey Hastings (BA ’04) won the 2008 company. Jeff enjoys outdoor activities as lives in Centennial, Colo.
first-place Colorado Broadcasters Association well as exploring Cleveland’s nightlife.
Award in the “Photo Essay With No Misty Ewegen (JD ’06) recently returned to
Reporter” category for non-metro markets. Teresa (Jennings) Russo (MA ’05) and Peter Colorado and opened a law practice focusing
His piece was titled “7-election.” Jamey is a Russo are proud to announce the birth of a on environmental and natural resources
photojournalist at KKTV in Colorado Springs, baby girl, Maeghan Amelia. Their daughter law. In March 2009, Misty took the oath of
Colo. was born on Jan. 24, 2009, in Key West, admission in the District of Columbia to give
Fla., where the family resides. Big brother her practice a broader range. She works from
Nicholas welcomed Maeghan. home in Denver and loves the time she gets
to spend with her two kids.

Deaths 1960s
Luella Sprague (BA ’60), Long Beach, Calif., 11-2-08
Donald Walrafen (PhD ’60), Ashland, Ore., 10-15-08
1940s Vernon Wetherbee (MA ’62), Waupaca, Wis., 1-8-09
Robert Buell (BA ’40), Redondo Beach, Calif., 4-16-09 Maybeth Melton (MA ’63), Lebanon, Ky., 4-4-09
Dorothy Hix (BA ’41), Tulsa, Okla., 1-25-09 Jon Morris (MA ’65), Fairfax, Va., 1-31-09
Norris Nereson (MS ’41), Los Alamos, N.M., 2-21-07 Dixie Roberts (MA ’65), Cedaredge, Colo., 3-3-09
Margaret “Curley” (Roche) Unrein (BS ’43),
Littleton, Colo., 1-19-09 1970s
James Easton (BS ’48), Denver, 3-21-09 Florence Arnn (BA ’70), Colorado Springs, Colo., 3-30-09
Charlice Gillespie (MA ’48), Jackson, Miss., 4-1-09 Nina Spitzley (BA ’70), Crested Butte, Colo., 10-3-08
V. Paul Ricken (BS ’48), Murrieta, Calif., 2-6-09 Donald McCann (PhD ’77), Scottsdale, Ariz., 7-30-08
Flake Vickery (BSBA ’48), Arvada, Colo., 1-23-09
Francis Bobbin (BS ’49), Springfield, Mass., 4-16-09 1980s
Doris Bunce (BA ’49), Lone Tree, Colo., 11-18-08 Richard Booth (BSBA ’83), Denver, 4-17-09
David Hovey (JD ’88), Olympia, Wash., 12-31-08
1950s
Edna Newkirk (BS ’52), Monument, Colo., 1-12-09 Faculty and Staff
Jerome Levy (MA ’53, PhD ’56), Albuquerque, N.M., 2-6-09 Erik Bluemel, assistant professor of law, Denver, 5-6-09
Leonard “Howard” Stoker (BS ’53), Littleton, Colo., 2-9-09 Roger Campbell, admission dean emeritus, Poinciana, Fla., 4-26-09

56 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


?
Brenda Gillen (MLS ’06) of Denver has 2007
launched Writing Matters LLC, offering Rupert Jenkins (MBA ’07) curated two
writing, editing and proofreading services. recent exhibitions of photography at
Prior, Brenda was an editor at the University Redline in Denver. One show is a 60-year
of Denver. retrospective of works by Hal Gould, owner
of the Camera Obscura Gallery in Denver.
Rory Vaden (MBA The other is a companion exhibition of Which alum was inspired to start
’06) of Longmont, contemporary photography and video by four a business while sitting in Claude
Colo., started a artists from Colorado and elsewhere. Rupert Monet’s garden in Giverny, France?
company with two resides in Denver.
friends during graduate
school that has grown The answer can be found somewhere
into a multi-million 2008 on pages 45–57 of this issue. Send your
dollar company with Erin (Grorud) Clark (MM ’08) and Paul answer to du-magazine@du.edu or
about 30 employees. Clark are happy to announce their marriage University of Denver Magazine, 2199 S.
The company, Success on Nov. 8, 2008, in Anoka, Minn. They
University Blvd., Denver, CO 80208. Be
Starts Now, presents motivational sales reside in Saint Paul, Minn.
training conferences. Rory also has a book, sure to include your full name and mailing
Take the Stairs, coming out soon. He has been Andrew Romanoff (JD ’08), former speaker address. We’ll select a winner from the
on the Take the Stairs World Climbing Tour, of the Colorado House of Representatives, correct entries; the winning entry will win
climbing the 10 tallest buildings on the globe has been awarded the Sue O’Brien Award for a prize courtesy of the DU Bookstore.
to help raise money for charities. Public Service for spearheading a successful
campaign to provide live video coverage
Congratulations to Phyllis Hansen
of the proceedings on the House floor. He
resides in Denver. Nemeth (MA ’65) for winning the
summer issue’s pop quiz.
Post your class note online at www.alumni.du.edu, e-mail du-magazine@du.edu or mail
in the form on page 54.

The University of Denver Office of Alumni


Relations is excited to announce our new and
improved Web site and Online Community!
Our new site has been redesigned with a fresh look and has been updated
with the latest information about our programs, events and alumni benefits.
Additionally, the ePioneer Online Community now offers new and enhanced
features to better serve you and fellow alumni. Once you’ve created your
secure personal profile you’ll have immediate access to many useful services,
and best of all — it’s free!

• Connect your Facebook member page to your ePioneer profile page for single sign-on
•  dd content from LinkedIn, MySpace, Twitter and more
A
•  ind old classmates and add them to your personal friends list
F
• Post class notes Get Connected Now!
• Connect and engage with other alumni who share the same interest using Groups • Go to http://www.alumni.du.edu and click
• Easily update your contact information to keep in touch with other alumni and the University on “Online Community”
• Add or view photo albums • Select “First Time Login”
• Post your resume • Find and verify your alumni information
• Register for alumni events • Update your profile, share new information
• And much more! and connect with DU friends & classmates

Questions? Please contact the Alumni Relations


Office at alumni@du.edu or 800.871.3822.

University of Denver Magazine Connections 57


ANNOUNCEMENTS
Get Involved Nostalgia Needed
DU Photography Department

Mentoring Join the Pioneer Connections Please share your idea for nostalgic topics we could
Mentoring Program and start mentoring a DU cover in the magazine. We’d love to see your old DU
student today. Contact Hallie Lorimer at hlorimer@ photos as well.
du.edu for details.
Pioneer Generations
Local Chapters Just moved to a new city and How many generations of your family have attended
don’t know anyone? Need to expand your profes- DU? If you have stories and photos to share about
sional network? Want to attend fun events and your family’s history with DU, please send them our
make new friends, or reconnect with old ones? Join way!
a local alumni chapter: Atlanta; Boston; Chicago;
Dallas; Minneapolis/St. Paul; New York; Phoenix; Mark Your Calendar
St. Louis; and Washington, D.C. To find out how Newman Center Presents The 2009–10
you can get involved, call the Office of Alumni Newman Center Presents series kicks off Sept. 26
Relations at 800-871-3822 or visit www.du.edu/ with New York-based dance organization Keigwin +
alumni/chapters. Company. Other performers on the schedule include
Mariza, Dec. 14; the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra,
Lifelong Learning
Jan. 15; and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, March 16.
OLLI DU’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is a >>www.du.edu/newmancenter
membership program designed for men and women
age 55 and “better” who wish to pursue lifelong DU Law Stars The Sturm College of Law’s
learning in the company of like-minded peers. annual fundraising event is scheduled for Oct. 1
Members select the topics to be explored and share at the Hyatt Regency. Money raised from the event
their expertise and interests while serving as facili- supports the Student Law Office and DU Law
tators and learners. General Scholarship Fund.
>>universitycollege.du.edu/olli >>www.law.du.edu/index.php/alumni/law-stars
Enrichment Program Noncredit short courses, Alumni Symposium Take part in a weekend
lectures, seminars and weekend intensives explore learning experience on campus during the third
a wide range of subjects without exams, grades or annual symposium Oct. 2–3. Enjoy a wide variety
admission requirements. of class sessions with DU faculty, hear from distin-
>>universitycollege.du.edu/learning/ep guished keynote speakers and network with alumni
and friends.
Calling All Experts >>www.du.edu/alumnisymposium
We’re trying to get to know our alumni better while
developing possibilities for future articles. Please
Homecoming Come back to campus Oct. 28–
Nov. 1 to cheer on the Pioneers, watch the parade,
send us your ideas. We would especially like to hear
trick-or-treat with your family, enjoy great food and
about readers who:
live music, tour campus and more.
• a re working (or former) journalists, especially >>www.alumni.du.edu
those working in “new media” DU on the Road Find out what your alma mater
• have struggled with personal debt (including stu- has been doing since you left. See if DU is coming to
dent loans and credit cards) or are experts in debt a city near you.
management >>www.alumni.du.edu/DUontheroad
• work in the food and beverage industry
• are working/serving in Iraq or Afghanistan Career Connections
• were DU Centennial Scholars Pioneer Alumni Network Join other Denver-
• are members of the Class of 1989 area alumni for free networking events each month.
• served in the Peace Corps >>www.alumni.du.edu
• served in AmeriCorps
• do volunteer work Stay in Touch
Online Alumni Directory Update your contact
information, find other alumni and “bookmark”
Contact us your alumni friends and classmates. You may also
University of Denver Magazine read class notes and death notices. Online class note
2199 S. University Blvd. submissions will automatically be included in the
University of Denver Magazine.
Denver, CO 80208-4816
>>www.alumni.du.edu
du-magazine@du.edu
303-871-2776

58 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009


Family Pass Buddy Pass Savings
(4 Tickets) (2 Tickets)
ICE HOCKEY
Nov. 27 St. Cloud $50 $30 up to $23
Jan. 1 Wells Fargo Denver Cup Day 1 $50 $30 up to $23
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Nov. 13 Northern Iowa $20 $14 up to $16
Nov. 25 Wyoming $20 $14 up to $16
ALL NEW SUPER FAN PACK
One low price gets you 4 or 2 tickets to each of the games listed below!
Oct. 9 Hockey vs Vermont
Nov. 19 Men’s Basketball vs Montana $84 $48
For information on season packages, group ticket pricing or schedules call 303.871.GOAL.
*NOTE: Upon processing your ticket order you will be contacted to confirm final payments and ticket
pick-up options. All tickets are price level 3 and subject to availability.

Name

Address Phone #

City State ZIP

DU class of I want to remain on the DU alumni mailing list

Payment Check Enclosed MC Visa Discover Amex SUBTOTAL MAIL TO:


Ritchie Center Box Office
Card# Expiration Date $3 HANDLING 2201 E. Asbury Ave.
Denver, CO 80208
Signature TOTAL Fax: 303.871.3905
University of Denver Magazine Connections 59
Miscellanea
Face time

This mask from Indonesia is part


of a donation of 56 masks Denver
resident Henry Strauss recently made
to the DU Museum of Anthropology.
Wayne Armstrong

It depicts Garuda, a Hindu deity that


is half-man, half-bird. Strauss and his
family have spent decades traveling
the world. He purchased his first mask
in 1955, and eventually his collection
grew to represent indigenous cultures
from all over the world, including
Africa, South America and Asia.

60 University of Denver Magazine Fall 2009

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