Recent DSPT graduate, Eiyad al-Kutubi (who goes by David) was a physician who found his real passion in philosophy. He is an active member of the Fatimyah Islamic Center in Hayward and frequently gives talks there for their Thursday night community gatherings. He came to DSPT because it gave him the opportunity to put Muslim and Christian philosophers in dialogue. His thesis, Mulla Sadra's Theory of Substantial Motion, discussed the theological implications of the theory of substantial motion for the idea of bodily resurrection. Mulla Sadra was a 15th-century Muslim philosopher who is popular for his works reviving ancient philosophy, similar to the work done by St. Thomas Aquinas. Currently, he is looking for a PhD program in philosophy that will allow him to continue to study the writings of Mulla Sadra. He reports:
DSPT offered me the opportunity to study classic and medieval philosophy, something that I could not find anywhere else in California. When Sr. Marianne Farina introduced me to the faculty and mission of DSPT, I realized that it was just what I was looking for. Having finished my Master’s, I am completely convinced that this was the right choice. The professors are open-minded, knowledgeable, and excel in their skill of articulating and communicating difficult questions in philosophy to their students. I hope to keep the good relationship that I have with DSPT for years to come.
Monday, November 3, 2008
November 2008: A Culture of Philanthropy
The Advantages of Making a Gift through your Will
A simple, effective, and flexible way to make a substantial gift to DSPT is to leave a bequest in your will. A bequest offers tax benefits for your estate and provides the satisfaction of knowing that you have invested in an institution you believe in.
Through a will bequest you may be able to make a larger gift than you could have afforded in your lifetime and you are not limited to gifts of cash. You can also leave stocks, bonds, art work, real estate, or other assets. In return, your estate will receive a tax receipt for the full value of your bequest. The receipt may also be carried back and claimed in the year prior to death.
Will bequests can be arranged in a variety of ways and can be drafted to reflect even the most specific wishes. We recommend that you seek advice from your lawyer and financial advisor to ensure that your gift meets your goals and provides the maximum benefits to both your beneficiaries and to DSPT.
Giving Cart
Did you know that you can support DSPT through your online purchases? Go to http://www.givingcart.com/ and select the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology as your cause when you do your shopping through this site.
A simple, effective, and flexible way to make a substantial gift to DSPT is to leave a bequest in your will. A bequest offers tax benefits for your estate and provides the satisfaction of knowing that you have invested in an institution you believe in.
Through a will bequest you may be able to make a larger gift than you could have afforded in your lifetime and you are not limited to gifts of cash. You can also leave stocks, bonds, art work, real estate, or other assets. In return, your estate will receive a tax receipt for the full value of your bequest. The receipt may also be carried back and claimed in the year prior to death.
Will bequests can be arranged in a variety of ways and can be drafted to reflect even the most specific wishes. We recommend that you seek advice from your lawyer and financial advisor to ensure that your gift meets your goals and provides the maximum benefits to both your beneficiaries and to DSPT.
Giving Cart
Did you know that you can support DSPT through your online purchases? Go to http://www.givingcart.com/ and select the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology as your cause when you do your shopping through this site.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Report on the Apostolic Visit to DSPT
In 2006, The Holy See ordered a visitation of all Roman Catholic seminaries in the United States. DSPT was among those institutions that were visited. The visitation team had a chance to review the School’s documentation beforehand and interview students, faculty, staff and recent alumni during their on-site visit.
The Report from the Visitation, which was released in the fall of 2008, confirmed that DSPT’s academic program is excellent, with the students receiving a substantially complete grounding in dogmatic and moral theology. The report also finds our faculty both academically prepared and doctrinally sound.
Most Reverend Allen Vigneron, Bishop of Oakland, who also received a copy of the report, called Father Emmerich Vogt, O.P., Chancellor of the School, to congratulate and commend the School. The report from Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education read, in part:
The Report from the Visitation, which was released in the fall of 2008, confirmed that DSPT’s academic program is excellent, with the students receiving a substantially complete grounding in dogmatic and moral theology. The report also finds our faculty both academically prepared and doctrinally sound.
Most Reverend Allen Vigneron, Bishop of Oakland, who also received a copy of the report, called Father Emmerich Vogt, O.P., Chancellor of the School, to congratulate and commend the School. The report from Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education read, in part:
The Visitation confirmed that the School's academic program is excellent… The majority of the syllabi reflect a feeling of sober, serious scholarship throughout, even in cases where a contemporary approach is taken to a traditional topic….A serene sense of confidence in the value and usefulness of the Magisterium's teaching and its central importance for those who are learning theology prevails. St. Thomas is given pride of place in many of the philosophy and theology courses, though at the same time the best of contemporary sources is also in evidence.
The Ethics and Moral Theology courses are noteworthy for their depth, scope and inclusion of magisterial teaching…Undoubtedly one of the strengths of the “Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology” is the ability it fosters in its students to dialogue, on the intellectual level, with contemporary society. The students seem to know the issues involved in the contemporary crisis of subjectivism and moral relativism, and are adequately trained to provide a response based on reason and affirming the existence of moral and philosophical truth.
Monday, September 1, 2008
New GTU Lounge!
We now have a new lounge on the first floor of the 2465 LeConte Avenue GTU Building! (i.e. the old bookstore building). The lounge is open to ALL students, faculty, and staff across the consortium, currently Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The lounge has a tiny entertainment center where you can listen to the radio or play CDs.
The lounge also has wireless. To access the wireless network you will need to use your op.dspt.edu account (if you don’t know what this is, ask Angela Becker at Reception). Once done, “find” the GTU wireless network (called “GTU”) and click on it to connect. Once connected, open your browser… it will immediately launch a page to allow you to set up a “GTU wireless network account” (different from setting up the op.dspt.edu email account). With that account set up, you can, then, sign into the network.
Lounge Rules:
The lounge has a tiny entertainment center where you can listen to the radio or play CDs.
The lounge also has wireless. To access the wireless network you will need to use your op.dspt.edu account (if you don’t know what this is, ask Angela Becker at Reception). Once done, “find” the GTU wireless network (called “GTU”) and click on it to connect. Once connected, open your browser… it will immediately launch a page to allow you to set up a “GTU wireless network account” (different from setting up the op.dspt.edu email account). With that account set up, you can, then, sign into the network.
Lounge Rules:
The GTU would love student feedback about the space. Until they are able to get that, there are a few things they would like you to know:
- We plan to keep the front door to the lounge unlocked. Because the space is not monitored, I think we will start “closing” the door, simply to discourage traffic not intended for this space. If we do, make sure you try the door and don’t assume a closed door is a locked door.
- You are welcome to bring food and drink in, but we currently do not provide food or drink. Feel free to use the refrigerator and microwave in the lounge in the basement, and you are welcome to coffee on the second floor. We have plenty of supplies and if you need something that has run out, let Fredonia Thompson, Student Affairs Office Manager and Receptionist, know (on the 3rd floor).
- Please tidy up after yourself. If you spill or otherwise make a little mess, obviously clean it up if you can. If you can’t, Fredonia can help you locate cleaning materials and supplies;
I plan to order a couple of newspaper subscriptions for the lounge. Same concept, help keep them tidy and inviting for your colleagues to read. - The lounge is BOTH for conversation and study. We ask that you simply be mindful of the people around you. If folks are reading or otherwise obviously working, use your “library voice” when you chat. If, however, folks are not working, your “gym voice” or a hearty laugh is OK!
- Remember, we welcome students from all over the consortium, so feel free to meet with an MDiv colleague or a friend in a DMin program in the lounge. Even an occasional faculty member or staffer is OK, right? Ha!
- Obviously in light of California law, this is a “no smoking” area.
- We also ask that you not bring non-human animals into the lounge, e.g. pets of all kinds, unless the animal assists you to manage a disability. In those cases, students should follow the GTU differently-abled policies and protocols to be on record with the GTU Dean of Students office (see the GTU website for the link to this information).
Friday, August 1, 2008
GTU Course Books at Cal Bookstore
The Graduate Theological Union is pleased to announce that its campus bookstore has moved to a new location. The new store will become part of the University of California at Berkeley bookstore and is located in the Student Union building on the UC campus.
The UC Berkeley bookstore is owned by the Student Union and operated by the Follett Higher Education Group, the nation’s largest operator of college bookstores. Follett operates more than 760 college stores nationwide, including the stores at UC Berkeley and Stanford. The GTU is pleased to partner with UC Berkeley and Follett to serve our students’ educational needs.
The UC bookstore will provide textbooks and readers for all GTU courses.
For Students
Textbooks and readers will be available for purchase at the UC Berkeley store, located in the Student Union building. Textbooks are currently located in the lower level of the store. Books of general theological interest are available on the main level of the bookstore. Students may also purchase texts online and either have them shipped to their homes or pick them up at the store.
108 Martin Luther King Jr.
Student Union, #4504
Corner of Bancroft Way at Telegraph Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94720-4504
Phone: (510)642-9000 Fax: (510)643-7836
For Faculty
If you submitted your textbook order to the GTU bookstore, it has already been forwarded to the new store. The new store will also create readers for you. If you wish to contact the store you may email the textbook department at text@berkeley.edu or contact them by phone at 510-642-9000 ext. 683.
The UC Berkeley bookstore is owned by the Student Union and operated by the Follett Higher Education Group, the nation’s largest operator of college bookstores. Follett operates more than 760 college stores nationwide, including the stores at UC Berkeley and Stanford. The GTU is pleased to partner with UC Berkeley and Follett to serve our students’ educational needs.
The UC bookstore will provide textbooks and readers for all GTU courses.
For Students
Textbooks and readers will be available for purchase at the UC Berkeley store, located in the Student Union building. Textbooks are currently located in the lower level of the store. Books of general theological interest are available on the main level of the bookstore. Students may also purchase texts online and either have them shipped to their homes or pick them up at the store.
108 Martin Luther King Jr.
Student Union, #4504
Corner of Bancroft Way at Telegraph Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94720-4504
Phone: (510)642-9000 Fax: (510)643-7836
For Faculty
If you submitted your textbook order to the GTU bookstore, it has already been forwarded to the new store. The new store will also create readers for you. If you wish to contact the store you may email the textbook department at text@berkeley.edu or contact them by phone at 510-642-9000 ext. 683.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
DSPT Annual Golf Tournament
Join DSPT as it launches its first-ever golf tournament. The event will be held on Monday, July 14 at the Metropolitan Golf Course in Oakland. This year’s golf tournament will include a silent auction and a raffle following the awards ceremony. Your registration fee of $150 includes green fees, carts, BBQ, and tee prizes. Registration & Putting contest starts at 8:00 AM and shotgun starts 9:30 AM.
Please join us in this fun event. Your participation will help us to raise the funds needed to continue DSPT’s vital mission of educating and preparing its religious and lay students to become future leaders of the Church. For more information, please e-mail Advancement@dspt.edu or call (510) 883-2085.
Please join us in this fun event. Your participation will help us to raise the funds needed to continue DSPT’s vital mission of educating and preparing its religious and lay students to become future leaders of the Church. For more information, please e-mail Advancement@dspt.edu or call (510) 883-2085.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Lam Khong to Exhibit Art Work in Boston
DSPT Alumnus Lam Khong will be presenting two series of works on paper in an exhibition entitled "Breath and Prayer." Each series contemplates the Stations of the Cross from a unique perspective. In many traditional Stations, we see a narrative of the events of Jesus' Passion. As Lam become more familiar with these specific scenes such as "Jesus is Condemned to Die" or "Jesus Meets His Mother," he reinterprets the historical Stations in order to help him better understand and appreciate the Passion in his life. In these two series, one is focused on the face of Jesus and one is focused on his breath.Lam said, that "...while studying philosophy at the Dominican School in Berkeley in 2007, I began the series of line drawings. My mind was worn out by the amount of reading—and 
rereading. By the end of the day, the only thing I could concentrate on was drawing simple lines across the page. Each line was drawn in one breath, and often, I would recite a prayer with each line. Through this simple gesture, I recognized a few important lessons. Every human act, like every line, is important. Although our individual tasks may be minute, when added together, they become significant. In each drawing, there are about three thousand lines. The nature of lines and their abundance brought me to reflect on beginnings and ends and eternity."
rereading. By the end of the day, the only thing I could concentrate on was drawing simple lines across the page. Each line was drawn in one breath, and often, I would recite a prayer with each line. Through this simple gesture, I recognized a few important lessons. Every human act, like every line, is important. Although our individual tasks may be minute, when added together, they become significant. In each drawing, there are about three thousand lines. The nature of lines and their abundance brought me to reflect on beginnings and ends and eternity."Lam will be at the opening reception on July 5, 2008.
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