Mirror - Vol. 32, No. 23 - March 29, 2007

              WEEK OF MARCH 29,2007
Vol. 32, Iss. 23 - 20 pages
FREE - Take One MIRROR www.FAIRFIELDMIRROR.coM
The independent student newspaper
of Fairfield University
Beloved Jesuit Regan To Return as Commencement Speaker
Speech Will Be Long-Awaited Homecoming
BY ANDREW CHAPIN
While his accomplishments at Fairfield were
boundless, the lasting impression that Fr. Thomas
Regan left on his contemporaries extended even
further than his vast accolades.
"He reached people in a way a lot of teacher's
don't," said accounting professor Joan Van Hise, who
recalled the decision to do away with the Fairfield
ice hockey team.
Van Hise, who advised the business students on
the team, spoke with Regan, who at the time was an
assistant dean in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Though he was not required to, Van Hise re-membered
how Regan went out of his way to work
with the students who were transferring as a result
of the decision as well as students who had elected
to stay.
"He would say, 'Once you know, you can't not
know,'" Van Hise said.
To her, that typified the kind of person Regan
was at Fairfield: a model for both students and the
colleagues with whom he worked.
Regan, a graduate of Boston College, arrived at
Fairfield in 1980 where he was an adjunct philosophy
professor.
During the same time, he was worked toward
obtaining a master's degree and a doctorate of phi-losophy
at Fordham University.
He was awarded Alpha Sigma Nu "Teacher of
the Year" in 1984 but later left Fairfield to serve as
a visiting instructor at his alma matter.
After a two-year stint at Boston College^ he
was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1987;-^Bd-j.
SEE "UPCOMING" ON P. 6
Jon Ollwerther/The Mirro
Road block: Fairfield catcher Mike Weiner '08 and the Stags couldn't get past catcher Brad Olt and
JConn, but they came home to Alumni Diamond with a new-found optimism after sweeping Niagara in a
hree-game weekend series to open the conference portion of their schedule. For story, see p. 19 in sports
Praise All Around For Provincial
BY ANDREW CHAPIN
REGAN
Before his appointment
as Provincial Superior of
the New England Province,
he was one of the most
beloved professors and col-leagues
during his 15-year
tenure at Fairfield.
Now, four years later,
Fr. Thomas Regan will
return to Fairfield on May
20 to accept an honorary
doctor of laws degree and
address the Class of 2007
at ils commencement.
"I believe there is
something so rewarding
about teaching and engag-ing
in the life of the mind
that no other profession can
match," Regan said. "After
teaching thousands of Fairfield degree recipients, to be named one
myself is really quite humbling."
Regan was named Alpha Sigma Nu "Teacher of the Year" in 1984
and went on to chair the philosophy department as a tenured associ-ate
professor. In addition, he acted as the co-director of the Ignatian
Residential College.
Regan said he misses Fairfield "every day," and indicated that he
might be open to the possibility of returning when his term as provincial
expires in 2009.
"I believe that there is something so rewarding about teaching and
engaging in the life of the mind that no other profession can match," he
said. "Although it seems hard to believe it is already four years since
I left Fairfield. My term is six years. Two years from now, I would
like nothing better than to return to doing something that I truly love
to do."
His current position entails overseeing approximately 400 Jesuit
priests, brothers and seminarians.
The Jesuits of New England sponsor Fairfield, Boston College,
Holy Cross and four Preparatory schools in Connecticut, Massachusetts
and Maine.
University President Fr. Jeffrey von Arx, whose stated policy is
to have a commencement speaker who he believes will speak to the
Jesuit ideals of the University, heaped praise on Regan.
"Fr. Tom Regan has been one of the most popular professors we
have had at Fairfield, to which many devoted students will attest,"
said von Arx. "Fr. Regan will be able to speak eloquently to Fairfield's
Jesuit and Catholic identity, especially from his current perspective of
involvement in the national and international work of the Society of
Jesus."
Alumni and educators alike echoed von Arx's praise.
"In an age where four years of education at a private university
costs the same as a decent middle class home in many parts of the coun-try,
Fr. Regan was the kind of professor that makes such a significant
investment worthwhile," said Chris Donis '00.
Fairfield philosophy professor Joy Gordon, a former colleague
of Regan's, recalled the passion he expressed in his classes, so much
SEE "MIXED" ON P. 6
HPVVaccine To Be Administered at Health Center
BY LILY NORTON
Fairfield's Health Center plans to open an HPV clinic that
will administer vaccinations. The shots may cost less than the
series does now, about $360 for all three shots.
However, the Health Center does not currently have
GARDASIL available.
"Presently, we are not stocking GARDASIL due to the
high cost," said Gary Nelson, director of Health Services
and the official who initiated the project. "However, we will
administer [the vaccine] to students if they bring it with them
to the Health Center."
The Health Center is making an effort to implement the
project in response to the growing number of women affected
by HPV.
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and
Prevention, at least one out of two sexually active men and
women have had a genital HPV infection. Men are carriers
for HPV but affected by the disease. Merck, the creator of
GARDASIL, estimates that 80 percent of women in the United
States will have had an HPV infection by age 50.
Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second most common
cancer affecting women. In the U.S., approximately 4,000
women will die from cervical cancer this year, according to
the National Cancer Institute. The Institute encourages young
women to take precautions against HPV now because cervical
cancer usually does not occur until midlife.
Awareness for college-age women is important because
HPV is much more prevalent in women 20-24 years old, ac-cording
to Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The
Center also conducted a study of 2,000 women ages 14-59, the
college-aged women had a 44.8 percent rate of infection.
Since receiving FDA approval and coming onto the
market in June 2006, thousands of women «have; been vacci-nated.
Nelson said that he hopes as the time passes, the costs
for GARDASIL will drop and administering the drug will
become an easier process.
"We are working with the local Health Department to
administer GARDASIL on campus, but the supplies are very
limited," he said.
"HPV should be a concern of the University, especially
since it is so common among college-aged women," said
Gabrielle Guiliano'10.
Jessica Vigliotti '09, who is familiar with HPV research,
said she is pleased with Fairfield's progress but is concerned
about the Health Center's practices.
"Although the HPV vaccine will help prevent the rate of
HPV infection in women from increasing, I feel that women
should be presented with the entire story about GARDASIL,"
she said. "There are approximately 106 different types ofHPV,
and GARDASIL only covers four of those types."