Being Human - Rockhurst University

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ForalumniRockhurst Roots Grow Love for LanguagesWhen Abilene, Kan., native MarkCurran, ’63, graduated fromRockhurst, his classmates gave him anaward as “Most Outstanding ForeignStudent.” The jest was not completelyinaccurate, for Curran already hadbegun his long journey as a teacherand scholar of Spanish and Portuguese.Curran, Ph.D., is now professorof Spanish and Portuguese at ArizonaState University, where he has taughtfor 30 years. He is affable and modest.And, he is one of the world’s foremostauthorities on the Brazilian Literaturade Cordel, a form of grassroots narrativepoetry. His most recent book,“Historia do Brasil em Cordel,” gainedwide acclaim by Brazilian daily newspapers,Veja (equivalent to Time) andby literary critics.Curran was born and raised on aKansas wheat farm. His family is ofMark Curran, ’63Irish-Catholic descent. “Coming to Kansas City was a bigdeal to me,” he says.At Rockhurst, Curran made friends easily with bothAnglo and Latino students. In fact, two of these students(one from Brazil and another from Guatemala) becamelifelong friends.“One of the best things at Rockhurst was the largenumber of Latin American students,” he says.They were seeking the serious academic discipline forwhich the Jesuits are known worldwide. Curran quicklysought them out to practice his Spanish language skills. Hegraduated from Rockhurst with a bachelor of science inbusiness administration and a minor in Spanish. Majors inlanguages were not available at the time.He recalls with fondness his yearsat Rockhurst: the “terrific” basketballteam, the variety shows, the danceswith the women from Avila, and manyfaculty members, such as FathersHuger, Price, Schmidt, and Gough.He particularly remembers instructorVernon Long, who fueled his passionfor languages and persuaded him topursue graduate studies at Saint LouisUniversity where he earned a full-ridescholarship. There, he completed hisPh.D. in Spanish and Latin AmericanStudies with a minor in Portugueseand Luso-Brazilian Studies in 1968.For 30 years, Curran’s scholarshiphas focused on Cordel, a type of poorman’s poetry that originated in Brazil’snortheast interior. It was written bypoets and printed as rough eight-to-10page booklets. He was the first NorthAmerican scholar to study and write about it. During hiscareer, he has made more than 15 research trips to studyCordel, lasting from one month to a full year.The Cordel booklets filled the gap in areas where therewas almost no access to mass communication. They servedas both a literary entertainment and as a type of newspaperin verse for the poor. Cordel booklets used woodcuts asdecorative illustrations on their covers. These woodcuts,much like the poetry they were created to depict, are vanishing.The woodcuts grace the covers of several of Curran’ssix books.At Arizona State he considers himself first and foremosta classroom teacher, then a scholar. His grassroots asa Kansas farm boy and Rockhurst student have indeedserved him well.Tee With Me in St. LouisSt. Louis alumni have a chance for networking and funat the St. Louis Alumni Golf Tournament, scheduledfor Monday, Sept. 25.The tournament will take place at the Country Clubat the Legends in Eureka, Mo. The $175 fee includesgreens fees, cart, breakfast, refreshments and awards dinner.Shotgun start is at 11 a.m. For details, contact theAlumni Office at 816-501-4025, or 800-756-ALUM, orby fax at 816-501-4136.ROCKHURST22
Calling all Kansas City GolfersThe greens will see a lot of Rockhurst blue on Friday,June 23. That’s the date of this year’s Kansas CityAlumni Golf Tournament. It will be held at Dub’s DreadGolf Club in Kansas City, Kan.Registration and lunch begin at noon, with tee-offat 1:30 p.m. Dinner and the presentation of prizes, atapproximately 6 p.m., will follow the tournament.Chairing this year’s event are Dan McEniry, ’76, JohnHungerford, ’88, and Kevin Kinney, MBA ’98.This year’s entry fee of $100 includes lunch, cart,greens fees, refreshments on the course, dinner, a sleeve ofballs and a bag of tees. The Alumni Scholarship Fund willreceive $15 of each entry fee. Participation is limited tothe first 120 entrants.A variety of sponsorship levels are available. Thosewho don’t golf are encouraged to attend the post-tournamentpicnic. For more information, contact the AlumniOffice at 816-501-4025.Rock Wear is Just a Click AwayAre you interested in purchasing Rockhurst memorabiliafrom the comfort of your home?Just go to the Alumni section of the Rockhurst Website (www.rockhurst.edu) and click on “Alumni Store.”You will find a variety of clothing selections sure to pleaseeven the most discriminating Hawk.Though we currently are unable to offer online purchasing,all you have to do is call the Alumni Office at800-756-ALUM or 816-501-4025 to place your orderby credit card or check.Tony Tocco, Ph.D.Former Players Roast ToccoAlumni who played soccer under the tutelage of men’scoach Tony Tocco had their chance to “dishonor”him Jan. 15.The legendary Tocco, who has coached at Rockhurstfor more than 30 years, was roasted in St. Louis in anevening of lighthearted spoof. Alumni of his programenjoyed good food and their favorite memories of playingsoccer for one of Rockhurst’s best-known extroverts.Tocco, Ph.D., also is professor of accounting. He haswon more than 500 games in his career at Rockhurst.The “roasters” and other guests were treated to asneak preview of plans for a new Rockhurst soccer stadium.Facilities will include built-in bleachers that connectto Massman Hall, training and locker rooms, and roomfor future expansion. A project timeline will be establishedwhen fund-raising efforts are further along.23 SPRING 2000
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