USD Magazine, Summer 2004

SUMMER 2004 volume 19 • no. 4 USD MAGAZINE 14 features A Pair of Kings

USD Magazine www.sandiego.edu/publicacions

EDITOR Julene Snyder julene@sandiego.edu CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Michael R. Haskins '02 (M.A.) mhaskins@sandiego.edu Timothy McKernan timochym@sandiego.edu Krystn Shrieve kshrieve@sandiego.edu ART DIRECTION & DESIGN Barbara Ferguson barbaraf@sandiego.edu DESIGN SoroDesign PHOTOGRAPHERS Robert Burroughs, Barbara Ferguson, Fred Greaves, Brock Scott ILLUSTRATIONS Jennifer Hewitson, Cristina Martinez VICE PRESIDENT OF MISSION AND UNIVERSITY RELATIONS Monsignor Daniel Dillabough DIRECTOR OF PUBLICATIONS AND MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS Michael R. Haskins USD Magazine is published quarrerly by rhe Universiry ofSan Diego for its alumni, parents and friends. Editorial offices: USD Magazine, Publications Office, Universiry ofSan Diego, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, CA 92110-2492.Third-class posrage paid at San Diego, CA 92110. USO phone number (619) 260-4600; emergency securiry (6 19) 260-2222; disaster (6 19) 260-4534. Postmaster: Send address changes ro USD Magazine, PublicationsOffice, Universiry of San Diego, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, CA 921 10-2492. (0704/47500) University of San Diego PRESIDENT Mary E. Lyons

Two alumni - who each own major casinos - are beating the odds in Las Vegas. They're hoping for a winning hand by bringing back vintage Vegas for the modern day. Space Invaders Take a peek inside faculty offices that burst with personality, tchotchkes and oodles of the coolest toys on campus. Ambassador of Hope Diplomat extraordinaire, alumnus Joseph Ghougassian is a multi-tasking dynamo. But helping to modernize Iraq's higher education system may be his most lasting legacy. departments Campus Almanac Thousands celebrate dedication of the Degheri Alumni Center; local TV show spotlights Alcala Park. Also: students receive Goldwater Scholarship; $5 mil– lion gift for Real Estate Institute; new creative writing center.

20 26

8

Alumni Almanac John Trifiletti's 30 years of service at USD celebrated with scholarship in his name. Also: student graduates decades after first enrolling; alternative spring break brings

students to Honduras. Faculty Almanac

10 12 33 42 43

USD's first director of ethnic studies, Alberto Lopez Pulido, aims to shatter stereotypes. Also: boat dates back to time of Christ; Summer Math Camp returns. Sports Almanac Recruiting student-athletes is a labor- intensive business that knows no season. Also: baseball team passed up by NCM; men's tennis goes to Tournament; 2004 Torero Athletes of the Year named. Alumni Gallery/Class Notes Kathleen (McGonigle) Murtha '54 and former Founder's Hall roommate Mary (Binggeli) Beaver '54 celebrate 50 years of friendship. In Your Own Words Chris '94 and Angele (Farrell) '95 Jester had a dream: ro travel around the world. But then, some good news almost made their plans screech ro a halt. Almost. Calendar

4

Cover: Iraqi students applying/or Fulbright scholarships crowda room at Baghdad Univmity. © HAZIR REKA/Reuters!Corbis

3