Your Alumni Association - Villanova University

Paralegal Graduates Gather for Awards DinnerBY ANDREW SHEEHAN ’06 A&SVillanova University’s Office of ContinuingStudies hosted its ParalegalEducation Program graduation dinner atthe Radnor Hotel on September 14, 2006,to celebrate the 2005-06 graduating class.The graduates had completed either ayearlong part-time evening program or a14-week full-time day program.The Excellence Award, for receivingstraight A grades, was given to JenniferBesa, Kristin Coughlin, Vincent Evangelisti,Gailynne Ferguson, Elaine Harris,Irene Lander, Colleen Loftus, PaulaMasucci, Karen Neely, Claire Roth, JenniferSchneller and Jessica Umstead. Besaand Lander also received the Award forOutstanding Scholastic Achievement inLegal Writing, as did Lynn Wagner andGus Widmann.At a reception, graduates mingledwith fellow students and staff to discussMary Bustamante, director of ContinuingStudies, congratulates paralegal graduateJerome Hardy.their plans for the future. Dr. SamuelDiLullo, coordinator of the paralegalprogram and an assistant professor inthe Villanova Business School, in hiswelcoming remarks congratulated thegraduates on completing one of theregion’s most difficult paralegal programs.The event also was held “tothank the people involved who madethis happen,” he said. DiLullo specificallymentioned faculty and staff andthe graduates’ family members andsignificant others.Mary Bustamante, director of ContinuingStudies, gave the invocation, whichwas followed by a four-course dinner andpresentation of the certificates. The eventconcluded with closing words from DiLullo,followed by a photo session.For more information on the ParalegalCertificate Program, which is approved bythe American Bar Association, visit www3.villanova.edu/continuingstudies/paralegal/index.html or call (610) 519-4310.Constitution Day Forum Draws Audience into the IssuesBY TAINAH MICHIDA ’08 A&Sur purpose is not to promote a“Oscholarly discussion—it is toengage you in conversation,” explainedDr. Robert W. Langran in his openingremarks to students and faculty at VillanovaUniversity’s second ConstitutionDay Forum. It took place in the ConnellyCenter Cinema on September 18, 2006,and was organized by the department ofpolitical science and the Core HumanitiesProgram. Langran, the forum’s moderator,is a professor of political science.Praising the First Amendment, Langranstated that “It is the bedrock of a democraticgovernment.” Among the Constitution’sother features he praised were the right topropose amendments and the right to habeascorpus enjoyed by every U.S. citizen.Three other faculty members each hadfive minutes to share their views on significantfeatures of the Constitution and tosuggest possible reforms.Dr. Colleen A. Sheehan, associateprofessor of political science, discussedthe significance of the Preamble, “adeclaration of the principle of popularsovereignty,” she explained. “It is basedon the idea that human beings are allcreated equal.” In critiquing judicialreview, she proposed the creation of acouncil of revision composedof members of the judicialand executive branches.Dr. Catherine Wilson, aLawrence C. Gallen TeachingFellow in Core Humanities,called for an improveddefinition of the Americancitizen. She cited socialmovements such as thestruggle for equality by twogroups of political outsiders—African Americans andwomen. The question of whois a citizen “is fundamentalto every society,” Wilsonaffirmed. She calledattention to the question’scontemporaneity, remindingthe audience of the ongoing debate overimmigration policies. “This is a nation ofimmigrants and laws,” she stated.Dr. Peter Busch, also a Gallen Fellow,cited the freedom of religion provided bythe Constitution as both a “great danger”to the country and a beneficial contributorto society. One danger, Busch suggested,was that in the absence of an officialreligion, people could neglect spiritualmatters. “What effect does this have onour souls?” he questioned. “We need aneducation that is more than just technical,”he said. “There are lessons to be learnedfrom a Catholic or religious way of life.”Busch also mentioned, however, that thisabsence of an established religion “allowsfor the existence of various groups—no onefaction ever gets the upper hand.”The audience, invited to participate inthe discussion, raised issues such as privacyand the validity of rights not guaranteedin the Constitution.Winter 2007 55