John Pelissero

Here are details from a message from Loyola Provost John Pelissero:

Loyola Community,

As part of our efforts to advance Loyola’s Strategic Plan, I am pleased to report that the Division of Academic Affairs has nearly completed a three-year process of revising the University Core Curriculum for undergraduate students. A proposal outlining the major tenets of the revision to the Core was presented to the Academic Affairs Committee of the Loyola Board of Trustees in early December, where it was reviewed, discussed, and enthusiastically approved. I am writing now to provide you with more details regarding the revised Core, along with the plan in place for its implementation, which is effective in Fall Semester 2012. You will find these same details on Loyola’s Core Curriculum website at LUC.edu/core.

The present Core Curriculum requires students to complete up to 15 courses across 10 key Knowledge Areas, along with 4 courses in the “Values” curriculum, selected from the Core or a student’s major. This model has, we believe, been emblematic of Loyola’s commitment to academic rigor, relevant skill development, and Ignatian values. Nevertheless, over the years, faculty, administrators, and students alike have recognized its limitations. These include: 1) the lack of an introductory-level ethics course, foundational in content and emphasis; 2) the absence of sequenced courses in the Knowledge Areas, allowing students the opportunity to study a subject area with deepening complexity; and 3) a deficit of engaging learning opportunities that better integrate student learning in the Core and the major.

To address the limitations of the present Core Curriculum, the University Core Curriculum Committee (UCCC) and the Board of Undergraduate Studies (BUS) have worked diligently with faculty, deans, academic staff, and students to develop three significant changes to the Core:

1)      A Foundational Ethics Course, required of all students, will replace the series of applied ethics courses that currently fulfill this requirement. Given the assumption that a foundation in ethics is a hallmark of a Jesuit education, this new ethics requirement will be fulfilled through introductory-level ethics courses taught by ethics faculty who reside in the theology and philosophy departments. (It should be noted that this is a new three-credit hour requirement and will not fulfill requirements in other knowledge areas, bringing the maximum number of required Core credit hours from 45 to 48 credits.)

2)      A Developmental Sequence for the Core will bring a sequential structure to the Knowledge Areas where two courses are required. Courses will be designated as either foundational or advanced. The foundational courses provide a common experience for all undergraduate students, while advanced courses provide broad curricular choices to the student for their further exploration.

3)      An Engaged Learning Requirement provides students with the counterbalance of ”learning in context” not routinely available in traditional coursework, as well as an integrating experience for the Core and the Major. Through experiential learning courses such as internships, service learning, field work, research with faculty, study abroad, public performances, and capstones, students will fulfill the engaged learning requirement, while earning three credit hours. Three of the Core Values—understanding diversity in the U.S. or the world, understanding and promoting justice, and understanding spirituality or faith in action—will continue to be incorporated into the Knowledge Areas courses but will not be separate requirements. In effect, the four-course requirement on Values has been replaced with a single course requirement in engaged learning.

A Core Implementation Committee was constituted shortly after the Trustees approved the recommended changes in December, and met to begin its work in earnest before the Christmas holiday. The committee, led by David B. Slavsky, PhD, director of the Center for Science and Math Education and professor of physics, has established broad implementation principles to guide its work. These principles commit to:

1)      Making a smooth and timely transition to the new Core
2)      Maintaining equity and fairness for all students
3)      Allowing sufficient flexibility to enable students to graduate in four years

The Implementation Committee’s work continues to address the needs of three distinct populations of students: Incoming first-year students; continuing Loyola students; and transfer students. The needs of each student population are being addressed carefully and systematically, with the overarching goal of supporting students’ efforts to graduate in a timely manner.

I could provide you with many more details regarding the new Core, but my message would be even longer than it already is. Instead, I invite you once again to visit Loyola’s Core Curriculum website at LUC.edu/core. We are in the process of developing the site to make it a trusted source of information regarding new requirements, descriptions and explanations, courses, guidelines for students, FAQs, and advising tools for faculty and academic advisors. I encourage students to visit the site in preparation for advising meetings as you get ready to register for classes for both summer and fall of 2012. Know that the Core website is a work in progress and that you should plan to visit more than once! You may also e-mail questions concerning the new Core to CORE2012@luc.edu.

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Anthony Cardoza, PhD, faculty director of the Core Curriculum and professor of history, for his leadership in overseeing the Core Curriculum since 2009 and for the critical role he played in the Core revision. I would also be remiss if I did not thank the many individuals who have served over the past three years on the University Core Curriculum Committee, as well as other faculty and administrators who have contributed tirelessly to the Core revision. Your commitment to our students and service on behalf of the University is appreciated more than you know.

Sincerely,

John P. Pelissero, PhD
Provost

Nobody likes lice. So Loyola University Health System is offering a lice survival guide:

They’re small, creepy and suck your blood. Every parent dreads it, but it’s inevitable—the “lice letter.” Though a lice infestation is about as common as a cold, trying to rid your life of them can be as much of a head-scratcher as those disgusting bugs themselves.

“I had treated kids with lice in clinic, but it wasn’t until my own kids brought those scratchy, nasty bugs into our house that I truly understood their impact,” said Dr. Hannah Chow-Johnson, pediatrician at Loyola University Health System and assistant professor of pediatrics at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
Often, there is a stigma that a person with lice is dirty or doesn’t keep their house clean. According to Chow this is untrue.

“There is no shame in having lice. In fact, they are attracted to clean, shiny hair so the assumption that only unclean people having lice is false,” said Chow.

She also debunks the myth that head lice carry dangerous diseases.

“Typically, lice do not transmit infections. It’s just creepy to think about and they are a nuisance to already busy moms and dads,” said Chow.

Lice are small insects about the size of a grain of rice which lay small whitish or brownish eggs called nits. These are glued to hair shafts and are usually found within an inch or two from the scalp. Nits typically hatch in eight to nine days.
And baby lice, or nymphs, take another eight to nine days to grow to maturity before mating. They are transmitted from person to person through activities like snuggling, hugging and sleeping in the same bed. They can’t jump or fly, but make their way around when people share hats, backpacks, clothes or by using someone else’s brush or comb.

“Lice need blood in order to survive, so lice that are not attached to humans typically die in two to three days,” said Chow.

Here are some symptoms of lice:
• itchiness (especially behind the ears and the nape of the neck)
• bumps on the neck
• sometimes there is a feeling of movement in the scalp

“Try checking your child’s hair once a week. It’s inconvenient but it’s far easier to deal with lice early on than after the bugs have been there for a month,” said Chow.

To check for lice she suggests:
• Purchase a fine-tooth comb. The combs that come with other over the counter anti-lice solutions are not fine enough to look for lice or nits.
• Get a white towel and sit your child by a sink filled with warm water. If your child has longer hair, part it in sections.
• Spray either water or nit spray on a small section of hair, and starting from the roots, pull the comb completely through the strand.
• Rinse the comb and wipe it off with the towel. Repeat until you have combed through all the hairs on your child’s head.

“It’s not enough to do a quick visual by parting your child’s hair. Lice move very quickly and evade your best efforts,” said Chow.

Lice are also tenacious and can’t be killed with a hot shower or strong shampoo. If you find evidence of lice treat all members of the household. Also, wash linens and towels on a hot setting of the washing machine. Anything you cannot wash place in a large trash bag, seal it tightly, and let it sit at least 72 hours. Don’t forget car seats, booster seats, back packs, hats and jackets. If you have one family member with lice, you are better off washing and bagging everyone’s items.

There are many different types of medications for lice, but remember many of these kill live lice, but DO NOT kill nits. If you do not remove the nits, the cycle will start all over again. I remember a patient of mine complaining that the lice kept coming back. That was partially true, as they never went away,” said Chow.

She suggests using products which help highlight nits visually. These do not require a prescription and are equally effective in eradicating live lice but not the nits. The benefit of these solutions is that they need to be on the hair only about 10-15 minutes before killing lice and loosening the glue from the nits.

“For children who have many lice and/or nits, you should check his/her hair daily as it is easy to miss lice and nits. This is best way to ensure you eradicate every single one. It takes just two to tango and produce more lice,” said Chow. “After having lice your child will be more susceptible to it for 6 weeks so I suggest continuing to use the anti lice products for those weeks and continue to check daily for lice and nits.”

To prevent future lice infestation it’s important to remember that lice do not like scents such as mango, rosemary or tea tree oil. Shampoos containing these scents will help deter them. Nit and lice-repellant sprays that should be used daily also are available.

“Be vigilant! Early discovery will save you a lot of time and energy. And in this instance other parents will be grateful your child didn’t share,” said Chow.

Carlos Javier Ortiz photo

The award-winning documentary series, “Too Young to Die,” by photographer Carlos Javier Ortiz is set to be featured beginning Friday at the Loyola University Chicago School of Communication.

The Too Young to Die Exhibit opening will be held Friday, January 27, 2012, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm and will be displayed on the first and second floor as well as lower level of the School of Communication.

“Too Young to Die” is a documentary photography project illustrating the shocking statistics of youth violence in major U.S. cities.  For Ortiz, the documentary “personalizes” the stories of those affected by violence, most notably, gun violence.

While covering crime in Chicago for a separate project in 2000, Ortiz was moved to start his own collection of images.

“I was going to the crime scenes.  The victims were young kids and it really started bothering me seeing kids mourning their friends,” Ortiz said.  In 2006, he began his now five year in-depth project.
The photos range from mourning families and friends to gruesome crime scenes.  Despite the intimate dynamic between Ortiz and his work, he has not become desensitized.

“It’s all out of the ordinary having to see young people killed or going to their friends funerals.”
He refers to this situation as a “war.”  His website, carlosjortiz.com, shares statistics about the devastating number of deaths suffered by young people, stating, “[t]ragically, on average, sixteen youth between the ages of 10 and 24 are killed in the United States every day (CDC, 2009) as a result of gun violence. This is more than the number of American servicemen lost each year in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Ortiz also called attention to the disparate social and economic situations of these individuals, noting the poverty level incomes of families in areas like Englewood.  According to City-Data.com, the median household income for Englewood residents in 2009 was $22, 131.000.
“Black and Hispanics are dealing with this- it’s something that is avoided by the public,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz finds a lack of awareness by the general public, as well over-sensationalized media, as contributing factors to the neglect of this situation.

“You’ll see a kid, and kids are all God’s children, kidnapped.  If they’re not white and blonde, they don’t make the news,” Ortiz said.

Using his photography, Ortiz hopes to encourage confrontation and action.
“I think I want people to feel it’s not so distant from them— to really think about the problems and deal with it now.  Deal with poverty, lack of good schools, and parents deal with their children.  It’s a big quagmire we need to address and start investing.  It’s not just one person’s problem, it’s everyone’s problem.”

The School of Communication is just one destination Ortiz would like Too Young to Die showcased.  His goal is to put out a book and have his work travel from city to city.

Walt Gibler

This marks the third time in his Loyola career that Gibler has been tabbed Horizon League Male Scholar-Athlete of the Month but it is his first such recognition since February 2010. During the month of December, he scored in double digits in each of his eight appearances, tossing in a career-best 29 points against city rival DePaul on December 7. Although he entered the month of December with just one career double-double to his credit, Gibler recorded three double-doubles in the final five outings of the calendar year, including a 17-point, 12-rebound effort in a 59-45 victory at Canisius on December 22.

A member of the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll, Gibler was named to the National Jesuit All-Academic Team during the 2009-10 season and also has been a recipient of the Don Izban Award for outstanding academic performance. A psychology major with plans to attend medical school, Gibler carries a 3.70 cumulative grade-point average.

To be eligible for the U.S. Army Horizon League Scholar-Athlete of the Month award, a student-athlete must participate in a League sponsored sport, be a starter or important reserve, have completed one year at the member school and passed 24 semester or 36 quarter hours at that institution, and have a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or higher on a 4.00 scale.

For the season, Gibler is recording a team-best 14.1 ppg, to go with 6.2 rpg, while draining 52 percent (84 for 161) of his field goal attempts. He has scored in double figures on 14 occasions this season, including 12 of his last 13 appearances. The high-scoring forward needs only 17 points and 17 rebounds to become the 18th player in Loyola history to accumulate both 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in his career.

Gibler and his Rambler mates are back in action tomorrow night (Jan. 25) when they travel to Detroit.

Garry McCarthy

Here are the details from a news release:

“The world is watching! The world is watching!” is a common chant heard from protesters the world over as they use camera phones to document the actions of public officials. The ability to document is powerful but is it illegal?

Today almost everyone has a video camera in their pocket and in many cities local government uses cameras to monitor our streets. In our technology centered world the rules that govern citizens’ and journalists’ right to film, photograph and record audio are being challenged and constantly changing. These changes underscore the need for journalism and how fragile the protection the 1st Amendment provides.

This panel will bring together journalists, lawyers and public officials in an engaging discussion of the current political climate and the ongoing fights for free speech. This issue has many ethical consequences for the future of journalism and the role of seasoned journalists and citizen journalists and promises to be a thought provoking event.

This event is sponsored by The McCormick Foundation and The Chicago Headline Club.

Featured Panelists:

- Garry F. McCarthy, Superintendent, Chicago Police Department
- Lucy Dalglish, Executive Director, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
- Harvey Grossman, Legal Director, ACLU Illinois

When: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 5-7 p.m. (includes post-reception) Where: Loyola University Chicago (Water Tower Campus)
Lewis Towers
111 East Pearson, Regents Hall, 16th Floor
Chicago, IL 60611

RSVP:
Seating is limited. Please RSVP at EventBrite.com

http://tinyurl.com/shatteredlensloyola

Here are details from ABC-7:

Detectives in Key West have identified a body found floating near a pier as that of a Chicago man who had been reported missing by his family.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office says 65-year-old John Hanson was found in the water off White Street Pier with no identification on Jan. 13.

Hanson’s family told Chicago police they’d last seen him Jan. 9 as he left his home in the 6400-block of North Glenwood for work. Police said it appeared Hanson was at his office at some point on the day that he went missing. Family later received a package that had been sent from Key West with Hanson’s wallet, identification and other personal items inside.

The relatives contacted Key West Police, who put them in touch with the medical examiner’s office. Hanson’s body was then identified.

Investigators still do not know how the Chicago man died. An autopsy showed signs of drowning. Toxicology tests are pending.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Here are details of the Sun Times story:

The shooting happened about 12:46 a.m. in the 7600 block of North Sheridan Road when the shooter opened fire into a moving vehicle, police said.

A passenger — identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office as Jonathan Bell, 27 — was found dead at the scene after the vehicle hit a tree, police said. He had been shot in the side.

Bell, of the 7400 block of N. Ashland Ave., was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:10 a.m., according to the medical examiner’s office.

The driver — identified by the medical examiner’s office as Dion Miller, 26 — was shot in the leg, police said.

Dion, of the 6200 block of N. Francisco Ave., was initially taken to Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston in fair condition, but was later pronounced dead at 2:03 a.m., according to police and the medical examiner’s office.

No one is in custody and Belmont Area detectives are investigating.

Here are details of the Tribune story:

And police are investigating whether the alleged gunman was also responsible for fatally gunning down a Skokie teenager, Anton Sanders, 15, late Friday night.

The body of Dante Simmons, 33, was found in an alley in the 100 block of Clyde Avenue, according to Evanston police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

Simmons was a resident of nearby Rogers Park, Evanston police said. A 9 mm handgun was recovered by police at the scene.

Simmons appeared to have suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, police and the medical examiner’s office said. His body was found covered in snow.

Simmons was wanted by the Chicago Police for allegedly murdering Troy Cameron, 22, as he worked at the Walgreens, 315 W. Chicago, just before 10 p.m. Friday.

Cameron was a security guard at the store who reportedly had a 3-year-old son. Employees said Simmons also had worked there. NBC-owned, WMAQ-Channel 5 news reported that Simmons had been fired from the Walgreens and had phoned in threats to the store.

On Saturday, a large stuffed bear and a bouquet of flowers had been placed near the entrance after the store reopened in the afternoon, near where a pool of blood had been.

“We are deeply saddened by this incident, and our thoughts and prayers are with our employee’s family,” Walgreens spokesman Robert Elfinger said.

Meanwhile, Belmont Area detectives were looking into a possible connection between the Walgreens murder to the fatal shooting of the Skokie teen that occurred later Friday night, at 10:50 p.m., in the 1800 block of West Juneway Terrace, near the Evanston border, just south of Calvary Cemetery. That murder happened two blocks away from Simmons’ apartment.

In the later incident, police said Sanders suffered several gunshot wounds. A 9 mm handgun was also used in that shooting.

Here are details from the Tribune story:

The victim was found on the ground in the 1800 block of Juneway Terrace about 10:45 p.m., police said. He was identified this afternoon as Anton Sanders, 15, of the 4200 block of Golf Road in Skokie, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

A citizen spotted someone in the alley on Juneway Terrace and after going closer, found that the person was unresponsive and called 911, said Chicago Police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli.

Police found the victim had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and he was taken to an area hospital, where he was declared dead.

Dante Simmons, 33, who lived in the 1600 block of Juneway Terrace, was considered a suspect in the slaying, according to the Evanston Police Department, which had been called to the scene, at the corner of Chicago Avenue and Juneway, because of a report of shots bring fired.

Simmons, who police also believe was involved in a shooting that killed a man at a River North Walgreens Saturday night, was found dead of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot in an Evanston alley this morning.

Chicago Police issued a statement this afternoon that said Simmons was a suspect in the Walgreens’ shooting, but did not confirm Simmons was a suspect in Sanders’ homicide.

“Any connection between this subject and any other open homicide investigation has not been determined or verified at this time … detectives are continuing their investigation,” Chicago Police News Affairs said in a news release.