Mark G. Veith (B.S. PHY ‘83), LarryW. Hicks (M.S. ’84), and KazuoTakiguchi (B.S. PHY ‘86).

Initial response: The responseto our prelimary mailing of April12, 1993, was encouraging. Thismailing included a covering letteroutlining our newsletter plans, achronological listing of physicsmajor graduates with names andaddresses, and a questionnairedealing with personal and profes-sional history. We are speciallygrateful to the people who re-turned the questionnaire.

Brief History: Classes at thenew Creighton College began onSeptember 2, 1878, with a facultyof two Jesuit priests, three Jesuitscholastics, one layman, and onelaywoman. One of the scholastics(Jesuits in formation) was WilliamF. Rigge, S.J., after whom the

The general purpose of thePhysics Newsletter is to encourageand facilitate communication ofour physics graduates with thePhysics Department and with eachother. In this first issue, our em-phasis will be on the currentphysics department: faculty, staff,students, facilities, programs, andplans. In future issues, we wouldlike to highlight news about ourgraduates, both as individuals andin general. For this, we will belargely dependent on input fromyou.

Locating graduates: The task oftracking down graduates fromalmost half a century was greatlyfacilitated by the records andassistance of the Alumni Office. Allbut four graduates have beenaccounted for. We need help inlocating Yousef Y. Saaty (M.S. ‘75),

present Rigge Science Building,opened in 1968, is named.

In the early days of the college,science courses included as-tronomy, chemistry, geology, andphysics. The early important roleof science is indicated in a 12-pagebrochure with the title:

CREIGHTON COLLEGE EXHIBIT of Philosophical and Chemical

Apparatus, Minerals, Rare Books,Specimens of Class-Work,Collections of Coins andother Curiosities at the

INTER-STATE EXPOSITION, Omaha, Nebraska, 1886.

Seven pages of this brochuregive an impressive list of appara-tus in Mechanics, Hydrostatics,Heat, Acoustics, Optics, Electricity,and Astronomy.

Physics major program: Thefirst reference to a physics majorBachelor of Science (B.S.) programoccurs on page 94 of the Bulletinof the College of Arts and Sci-ences for the Academic Year1932-1933. The first record of aphysics major B.S. graduate isThomas I. Gilroy, deceased, whograduated on June 3, 1948.

Our earliest living B.S. gradu-ate is Francis X. Parle who gradu-ated on June 2, 1949, and now livesin Shelton, Washington. After a

year at NotreDame University,he taught physicsand mathematicsat CreightonUniversity. Heworked at BoeingAircraft in Seattlefrom July, 1952,until his retire-ment in January,1985.

Later physics degree pro-grams: The Bachelor of Science inPhysics program (B.S. PHY) wasintroduced in 1964 for studentsplanning advanced work in phys-ics. Our first B.S. PHY graduatewas David Bruening, who gradu-ated on Jan. 23, 1966, and receiveda Ph.D. degree in physics from St.Louis University. He is a NuclearTraining Technical Engineer atOmaha Public Power District’sFort Calhoun Power Station northof Omaha. — The physics Masterof Science Program (M.S.) began inthe fall of 1968. Our first physicsM.S. graduate was MarieSavickas, who graduated on May30, 1970, and is now retired in

Carnegie, Pennsylvania. As of May,1995, there have been 205bachelor’s graduates and 74master’s graduates. These totalsinclude double majors and 22 whoreceived both B.S. and M.S. de-grees at Creighton. — The Bachelorof Science in Medical Physicsprogram (B.S. MED. PHY), in-tended for students planning on ahealth science career, will begin inthe spring of 1996.

Old location: Real old-timers,from the forties to the late sixties,will have memories of the physicsdepartment located at the northend of the fourth floor of theAdministration Building in rooms

(Continued on Page 2)

Hunting Down the Alums from the Old Days

Master's Degree in PhysicsBegan in 1968 at Creighton

Vol. I, No. 1 Winter 1995-96 E=mc2

Francis X. Parle

2 Physics Newsletter • Creighton University

lecture table. The heliostat is nowon display in the lobby of theRigge Science Building.

The Rigge Science Building:Physics and the other naturalsciences took a big step forwardwhen the new Rigge ScienceBuilding, on the site of the southstands of the old football field,opened for classes on February 5,1968. Physics is located on thelower and ground levels; atmo-spheric sciences and psychologyon the first floor; chemistry on thesecond and third floors; biologyand environmental science on thefourth and fifth floors. In addition,a penthouse and an observationdeck on the roof are used forastronomy.

Physics facilities on the groundfloor are the office of the physicssecretary, eight faculty offices, twophysics classrooms, the generalphysics laboratory, the office of thelaboratory supervisor, two officesfor our eight graduate teachingassistants, and the Physics Clubroom.

The lower level might be calledthe cellar since it is entirely under-ground. On this level are located

Rigge Science Building viewed from the Southeast.

laboratories in optics, modernphysics, nuclear physics, solidstate physics, electronics, andastronomy, and the physics ma-chine shop under the supervisionof Brad Walters. Brad constructsmuch of the specialized equipmentdesigned for the research laborato-ries, also located on the lowerlevel. Areas of research includeatomic excitations induced by a200-kV positive ion accelerator (Dr.Cipolla), laser and solid statephysics (Dr. Zepf), and elementaryparticles (high-energy groupheaded by Dr. Cherney). Researchin ultra-relativistic heavy ionphysics is carried out by facultyand students at Lawrence BerkeleyNational Laboratory in California,Argonne National Laboratory inChicago, and Brookhaven NationalLaboratory on Long Island.

Since 1991, the department hasbeen affiliated with the NealeWoods Observatory, located onRiver Road in the bluffs 10 milesnorth of Omaha. Astronomystudents are transported to theobservatory by shuttle bus fornight-time observing under condi-tions of reduced light pollution.

A434 (Office), A435 (Classroom),and A436 (Laboratory). The officeA434 was painfully small. In theearly sixties, the four desks in theroom along the east and west wallshad to be staggered so that thedesk chairs would not collide.Around 1962, the office was movedto the larger room A431 to thewest, and A432, A501 (in the attic)and A334 were added as laborato-ries.

A334 stored a barrel-shapedneutron howitzer containing a5-curie Plutonium-Berylliumneutron source used for neutronactivation. The howitzer is still inuse in the Rigge Science Building.

The classroom A435 seatedabout 60 students in five tieredrows of seats and had a 12 x 3-footlecture table and a blackboard infront. In the south wall behind thelecture table was a door leadinginto the laboratory A436. Probablynot many people noticed a hole inthis door with a circular movablecover. Fr. William F. Rigge, S.J.,who was one of the five Jesuits onthe original faculty whenCreighton College opened in 1878,had inserted this hole so that hecould use natural sunlight foroptical demonstrations on thelecture table. He had built aheliostat with a movable mirrorthat tracked the sun. The heliostat,aimed at the sun, could be set on awindow sill in the laboratory. Asystem of fixed mirrors wouldreflect a beam of sunlight throughthe hole in the door onto the

The Physics Newsletteris published periodically byCreighton University's De-partment of Physics. Editor isClarence M. Wagener, S.J.

Creighton UniversityPhysics Department2500 California PlazaOmaha, NE 68178

(Continued from Page 1)

Physics Department History Has Curiosities, Too

Physics Newsletter • Creighton University 3

Present Physics Faculty: In thefall of 1995, the faculty has eightfull-time members and sixpart-time members.

Full-time members are:Dr Michael G. Cherney, Associ-

ate Professor. Mike teaches generalphysics and nuclear physics, and ishead of the high-energy researchgroup. He studied at the Univer-sity of Wisconsin.

Dr. Jan T. M. Chrin, StaffPhysicist in Particle Physics. Janstudied at Manchester in theUnited Kingdom.

Dr. Sam J. Cipolla, Professor,who has been the director of ourphysics graduate program since1981. Sam teaches general physicsand nuclear instruments andmethods, and does research inatomic physics. He studied atPurdue University.

Mr. Jeffrey J. Gross, AdjunctInstructor. Jeff teaches generalphysics and is part of the highenergy research group. He studiedat Creighton University.

Dr. Robert E. Kennedy, Associ-ate Professor, was chairman of thephysics department from 1973 to1981 and has been chairman for asecond term since 1993. Bob teach-ers thermodynamics and statisticalmechanics and courses in soundand music and Einstein. Hisresearch is in the history andphilosophy of physics. He studiedat Notre Dame University.

Rev. Thomas S. McShane, S.J.,Assistant Professor. Fr. McShaneteaches electronics and is part ofthe high-energy research group.He studied at St. Louis University.

Dr. Janet E. Seger, AssistantProfessor. Janet teaches generalphysics and quantum mechanicsand is part of the high-energyresearch group. She studied at theUniversity of Wisconsin.

Dr. Thomas H. Zepf, Professor.Tom teaches optics, solid statephysics, and a course on light,color and lasers for non-sciencemajors. His reseach is in laseroptics. He was chairman of the

Current Faculty Has 8 Who Are Full-time, 6 Part-time

physics department for 22 years,from 1963 to 1973 and from 1981 to1993. He studied at St. LouisUniversity.

Adjunct part-time faculty are:Ms. Katherine E. Becker, who

teaches natural science for teach-ers. Katherine studied at DenverUniversity.

Mr. David J. Kriegler teachesastronomy. Dave studied at theUniversity of Nebraska at Omaha.

Dr. Semih S. Kumru is coordi-nator of the new program inMedical Physics. Sem studied atthe University of North Dakota.

Dr. Iwona Sakrejda is part ofthe high-energy research group.Iwona studied at the Institute ofNuclear Physics in Krakow, Po-land.

Mr. David R. Stuva teachesgeneral physics. Dave studied atCreighton University

Rev. Clarence M. Wagener, S.J.,semi-retired, is assistant to thechairman and departmental librar-ian. Fr. Wagener studied at St.Louis University.

Permanent Staff:Mrs. Bonnie J. Kelley: Depart-

ment Secretary since 1975.

The Physics Faculty: (from left) Seger, Cherney, McShane, Wagener, Kennedy, Lazure,Cipolla, Zepf, and Gross.

Mr. Robert F. Stoffel: Labora-tory Supervisor since 1987. Bobstarted as Physics Shop Technicianin 1968.

Mr. Brad D. Walters: ScienceResearch Technician since 1990.

Former Faculty :Dr. K. Michael Davies is en-

gaged in osteoporosis research atthe Creighton Medical School.

Dr. P. K. John is at the Univer-sity of Western Ontario in London,Ontario.

Mr. Basil N. Lazure is retired inOmaha. Baz continues to maintainour audio-visual equipment.

Dr. David P. Maloney is at theUniversity of Indiana-Purdue inFort Wayne, Indiana.

Dr. Dion W. J. Shea is workingin graduate development at CityUniversity of New York (CUNY).

Dr. Paul E. Wack is at theUniversity of Portland in Portland,Oregon.

Dr. Robert J. Whitaker is atSouthwest Missouri State Univer-sity at Springfield, Missouri.

Rev. M. John Wymelenberg, S.J.lives at the Creighton UniversityJesuit Community and does pasto-ral work.

4 Physics Newsletter • Creighton University

Medical Physics, Engineering Programs AddedTwo new programs were intro-

duced in the spring of 1995: a newphysics degree in medical physicsand a new dual-degree program inphysics and an engineering fieldoffered in conjunction with Wash-ington University in St. Louis, Mis-souri.

The new degree of Bachelor ofScience in Medical Physics (B.S.MED. PHY) is designed for stu-dents planning a career in medicalphysics or another health-scienceprofession. It also may be an at-tractive program to pre-medicalstudents interested in medical re-search. Included in the programare the course PHY 351, Physics inMedicine, and the usual prerequi-sites for medical school. The pro-gram is being coordinated by Dr.Kumru, from Turkey, who receivedan M.S. degree in physics fromCreighton in 1988 and a Ph. D. de-gree from the University of NorthDakota in 1992.

The new dual-degree programoffered in conjunction with Wash-ington University is typically a5-year program in which a studentreceives a B.S. degree with a majorin physics from Creighton Univer-sity and a bachelor’s degree in anengineering field from WashingtonUniversity. Normally, studentsspend three years at Creighton andthen two additional years at Wash-ington University. The programcombines the personalized envi-ronment of a liberal arts collegewith the advanced technical pro-gram of a college of engineering.Fr. McShane is the Creighton coor-dinator of the program.

This new dual-degree programis distinct from the 5-year coopera-tive engineering program offeredin conjunction with the Universityof Detroit-Mercy in Detroit, Michi-gan. In this cooperative program,students spend two years inpre-engineering at Creighton, andreceive a bachelor’s degree in anengineering field from the Univer-sity of Detroit-Mercy after threeadditional years in Detroit.

Mission StatementThe faculty, staff, and students

spent a good part of the past yearin an effort to spell out in a missionstatement the essential and distinc-tive goals of the Department ofPhysics at Creighton University.On May 5, 1995, the following finalstatement was issued:

The Physics Department,composed of faculty, staff andstudents working together ina cooperative fashion, is an in-tegral part of the College ofArts and Sciences and ofCreighton University. We ad-dress the missions of the col-lege and of the university bygoing beyond simply theteaching of physics to the edu-cation of students in the Jesuittradition of a quality liberaleducation. This includes thepursuit of truth in all itsforms, an integrating vision ofthe world, transcendent val-ues, service to others, ethicalperspectives, and recognitionof the inalienable worth ofeach indiviudal.

Through physics, the mostfundamental of the naturalsciences, we stimulate intel-lectual curiosity and developour common understandingof the world around us. Weshare classroom experiences,laboratory discovery activi-ties, and opportunities for re-search. Through this closepersonal interaction, we helpeach other develop confidencein our abilities. These sharedactivities also guide studentstoward a mastery of the skillsand tools physicists use to ad-dress fundamental questions,foster the development of alogical approach to problemsolving, and aid the develop-ment of an ethical framework,both professionally and per-sonally.As expressed in the mission

statement above, the phyiscs de-partment at Creighton Universitystrives to promote a family atmo-sphere in which individual abilities

and needs are recognized and re-spected. Understanding conceptsand principles, clear thinking, andeffective oral and written commu-nication are stressed. The depart-ment tries to develop a solidgrounding in the content and skillsof physics within the broader per-spective of the humanistic andvalue-centered mission ofCreighton University.

The Creighton University So-ciety of Physics Students (PhysicsClub), founded in 1962, continuesto be a very important instrumentfor achieving the humanistic andacademic goals of the department.Dr. Seger is faculty moderator ofthe club. The Society is one of ap-proximately 400 collegiate chaptersassociated with the American Insti-tute of Physics. Membership isopen to all students interested inphysics. Chapter activities developenthusiasm for physics and help toform a close bond among studentsand with faculty. The memberscontinue to conduct an annualPhysics Field Day for regional highschools and present papers ontheir research at local, regional,and national meetings. In a physicsdepartment day of retreat last fallat the new Creighton Retreat Cen-ter at Griswold, Iowa, valuablechapter member input includedthe implemented suggestion thatstudent representatives sit in ongeneral faculty meetings.

The Creighton Chapter ofSigma Pi Sigma (chartered in 1982),the National Physics Honor Soci-ety, is one of about 300 charteredchapters in the United States. Elec-tion to membership in this Societyrecognizes individual students ofhigh achievement and promise ofdistinction in physics.

Epilogue: We hope to getinput from our graduates onwhat they would like to see infuture issues of the physicsnewsletter. Also, we considerour graduates as our family,and appreciate your visitswhen you are in town.