Mirror - Vol. 10, No. 25 - February 19, 1987

              The
FairfieldMIRRORv Volume 10, No. 24 Our Tenth Year Thursday, February 19, 1987 The Image of Fairfield
Black Scholars Program Includes Henderson
Dr. Lenneal J. Henderson. Jr.,
international energy and business
consultant and professor in Howard
University's School of Business and
Public Administration, will speak in the
Oak Room tonight at 8 p.m. The
address is part of the university's Visiting
Black Scholars Program.
Henderson's talk. "Making Choices:
Political Careers and the Lure of the
Business World" will focus on the need
to combine values and a commitment to
community service, with personal and or-ganizational
profit goals. In addition,
because of his extensive activities in
South Africa on behalf of the U. S.
Information Agency and the U.S. Agency
for International Development, he is
expected to comment on the political
situation there, including the impact of
economic sanctions.
"As we look at the 19th century and
the 20th century," Henderson noted in a
recent interview, one of the stark realities
is whenever business leaders "have
abandoned their sense of service we have
had major social problems: labor get
exploited; women get ignored; people of
color get discriminated against;and local
problems go unsolved."
Business organizations, he explains,
are not isolated entities but important
members of the community and must
share responsibility .^.for community
matters. "I hasten to say there are many
examples of outstanding service from
large and small companies which have
taken the lead in solving community
problems." One of the best things those
involved in scholarship can do is point
out exemplary models and examples.
"We have individual role models - why
not institutional or service role models?"
he asks.
Henderson's own career has
encompassed participation in business,
education and government.
He holds a bachelor's degree in
political science, a master's degree in pub-lic
administration and a doctoral degree
in political science with a minor in
economics, all from the University of
California at Berkeley. Henderson is also
a candidate for master's degree in science
technology and public policy from
George Washington University in
Washington, D.C. and has studied energy
management in India and Africa as a
postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins'
School of Advanced International
Studies.
At Howard University he has chaired
the Appointment Promotion and Tenure
Committee, the Graduate Programs Com-mittee
of the School of Business and Pub-lic
Administration, and the universitywide
Honors Program Challenges
Bright Students
By Mike McCIain
"I like the whole set up of the
Honors Program, 1 enjoy doing the
independent work, being introduced to
different fields of interest, and working
with many professors," says Eileen
Mulry, a junior psychology major and
member of the Honors Program.
The Honors Program features two
seminars a week for the entire semester.
"We study two periods of history in
depth, looking for a variety of human and
social science aspects," says Lisa Shook,
a junior math major and member of the
Honors Program.
According to Shook, students also
attend plays, operas, museums, and
ballets in the New York-New Haven
corridors. All trips are funded by the
Honors Program. "Last semester we
went to the Metropolitan Opera to see a
production of Beethoven's only opera,
Ficlelio . We also have speakers come in
from the university or from other towns
or cities," says Shook.
Phil Long, Doctor of Philosophy
and Director of the Honors Program says,
"Enrollment is normally limited to 15
students from any of the colleges or
schools, who are entering their third or
fourth year and who have attained a
G.P.A. of 3.25 or better."
If a student meets the core
requirements, he submits a copy of his
academic transcript, along with the
names of two faculty members to the
director. A committee composed of the
Director, a member of the honors faculty,
and a current honors student, will
interview all applicants and select those
who will participate.
Dr. Paul Lakeland, Religious
Studies Professor, says "The Honors
seminars are for a very select group of
students. Nine credits are assigned to the
Honors Program; six for the two-semester
seminar and three for an
independent research project. Everyone
must submit a paper if they wish to earn
the credit, and each student must pick a
topic that relates to the theme of the
course connected to their given majors."
He continues, "Each student's paper
must technically actuate a professional
paper. We are interested in the content of
each paper. When a student decides on a
topic he or she works with their faculty
advisor, chosen by the student from his
or her major or field of study."
"Writing a thesis paper in the midst
of all the reading that goes on in the
Honors Program along with my work in
other subjects is quite a challenge.
Papers are due by April first so I started
my research over the Christmas Holiday.
In the course, we have had psychologists
come to speak on Freud so my paper is
based on psychology," Mulry said.
She added, "My paper is going to
focus on comparing the writings of
German philosopher Hegel to concepts in
psychology. Hegel's writings discuss the
role of consciousness in human
behavior."
"Grades for the seminar portion are
assigned by the four professors who
direct the seminar after the oral exams at
the end of the spring semester and reflect
the student's achievement for the year,"
Lakeland said.
"The grade for the independent
research project is assigned by a faculty
advisor," Lakeland said. "The advisor
will act as a resource person for the
issues raised by the area of subject
matter. When the student comes to the
oral exam, he or she will answer
questions about their topic. The director
of the program, the student's advisor,
faculty and other students will be
attending."
Committee on Honorary Doctorates.
Henderson's experience in business
and government include serving as an
educational consultant to the Young
Astronaut Council in Washington D.C.
consultant and author for the U.S.
Agency for International Development,
and technical advisor to black businesses
in South Africa through the Nationa
African Federated Chambers of
Commerce.
As a lecturer on energy
conservation, electric utilities and
administration with the U.S. Information
Agency in cities throughout India, he
was elected to life membership in the
Indian Institute of Public Administration.
He has also been a USIA lecturer in
South Africa. Somalia, Tanzania and
Nigeria.
Active in civic and community
activities in the District of Columbia.
Henderson is the chair for the 81-member
Mayor's Budget and Resources Advisory
Committee and the 21-member Mayor's
Citizen Energy Advisory Committee.
Henderson has conducted research
and written extensively on energy,
politics and business, particularly as they
affect blacks and third world nations. A
second edition of "The New Black
Politics: The Search for Political
Dr. Lenneal Henderson
Power," which he co-edited with Michael
Preston and Paul Puryear in 1982. is
now in progress and "Energy
Management in Third World Nations" is
due out this year. His articles have
appeared in numerous journals including
"Public Administration Quarterly," The
Urban League Review." "Public
Management." and "The Review of Black
Political Economy."
Alumni Career Night
By Mary Prescotl
To enter big business or not to enter
big business? That is the question facing
many college seniors and graduates these
days. In this yuppie heydey, many are.
torn between pursuing a business career
with big bucks, or settling for one in
the social services. But is it really
settling? Ron Bianchi, a £964 Fairfield
grad who took the road so often not
taken, doesn't think so. Mr. Bianchi,
V.P. of Public Affairs at St. Vincent's
Medical Center, will speak with.students
about pursuing the social service career
in a health care industry at the upcoming
professional night on Wednesday,
February 25th.
Health Care has seen a lot of change
in past years. Many still conjure up
images of ministering nurses and doctors
when they think of it, but the fact is that
these are only a part, albeit an essential
part, of a much broader industry. Career
possibilities exist for virtually every
major in areas of sales, marketing,
administration, and more. Brand new
issues, such as hospital privitization,
advertising therein, and H.M.O.'s (Health
Maintainance Organizations) surface
every day furthering the opportunities in
the field.
Why, then, would someone choose
such an occupation when they could
utilize the same degree in a business
enviromenl and make more money?
Acor^ng to Mr. Bianchi, the rewards
obtained from a social service career
greatly exceed any initial monetary
Continued on page 8
Guatemalean Exile Speaks
By Lisa Boyne
In August of 1985 Cesar Mandez, a 19
year old peace activist, was abducted from
his home in Guatemala and taken to a clan-destine
prison off the shore of the pacific.
His only crime-helping the poverty strick-en
peasants of his country. Cesar spent nine
months inthis same prison, subjected to tor-ture
and near starvation. Last Thursday Ce-sar
shared his story to the University in
Loyola Chapel, bearing an unfortunate his-tory
of the impoverished conditions of his
country, and the political corruption that
exists in Guatemala.
Cesar had been active in his community
bringing food to the poor and teaching them
their rights, prior to his arrest. After he was
taken to prison he received extensive tor-ture,
including cigarette burns, beatings,
and cattle shocks. The prison guards asked
him again amd again "Why do you help the
poor ?". After nine months of continuous
terrorism they told him "you have liberty",
and took Cesar to an open field where they
abandoned him. When he linally made his
way to the nearest village he received aid
from nuns in the local commune. The army
told him to leave the country, and with the
help from nuns he was sent to Rio Grande,
and then to Brownsville Texas, where
another sister took him to Houston. In
Houston he received legal advice and then
flew to Washington, where he remained in
a hospital, recovering from a number of
bodily injuries. Cesar is now helped by a
santuary for refugees and exiles, who are
helping him remain in the country.
The lecture was interpretated by Sister
Ann who works for the Urban Retreat, a
home for many exiles. She also brought
Rafael Rohand, a Nicaraguan refugee who
refused to serve with the Contras or the
Sandinistas. Rafael would not join the mili-tary
because, he did not want to fight his
own people and emigrated to the United
States. Both Cesar and Rafael are staying
with the Urban Retreat and have cases
pending for their immigration.