Creighton University - Bluejay Yearbook (Omaha, NE)

Page 10 text:

Dedication Man is known by what he does and by what he says; by his everyday characteristics, no less than through the expression of his hopes, dreams, fears, and ambitions, one comes to know and respect the often hidden inner man. A slightly shuffling gait, a hint of an impish grin on an otherwise dignified countenance, and a mellow, Well, hello there . . ., reflect the friendly, imassuming nature of Leo V. Jacks, Ph.D. Al- though last year Dr. Jacks retired after thirty-one years of service as chairman of the Department of Classical Languages, students willing to grapple with Livy or the prose composition of Lysias could again this year avail themselves of Dr. Jacks ' zestful comments on topics ranging all the way from World War I experiences to the Jesuit system; for again this year Dr. Jacks con- tinued to teach a full schedule of classes in Greek, Latin, and Creative Writing, as he has every year since 1929. Dr. Jacks ' influence has by no means been restricted to his spirited classes. He has been Chairman of the Omaha Writers ' Club for seventeen years. It is in this capacity which he is known to many Omaha families who have watched him on local television and listened to his experienced advice on developing the skills of writing. Himself the author of several books. Dr. Jacks conducts a yearly Writers ' Conference on the Creighton campus. But varied activities and a heavy schedule of classes have not blurred Dr. Jacks ' focus on his primary goal throughout his years as teacher. Realizing that there is no one as helpless as a student with a problem and no one to go to, Dr. Jacks eagerly but unobstru- sively offers understanding and calm counsel to any student. He often follows the progress of his students for many years, up to and beyond graduation. Two Creighton graduates during recent years have been his own son and daughter, Marshall and Margaret. It is as a token of our realization of his lifelong dedication to us that we dedicate the 1963 Blue-Jay to Doctor Leo V. Jacks. And a man is known . . . Dr. Jacks has never been known for his hesitancy in expressing his opinions on a wide variety of subjects. The following are indicative of his wide-ranging com- ments.

Page 9 text:

FOREV ORD There once lived an old man, blind and alone, who lived and begged in the streets of Baghdad. One day a small boy approached the old man and in his inimitable childish fashion began rapidly telling the bent figure that one day, when he was grown, the world with all its beauty would be his; he would conquer lands and capture minds; and there would be nothing that he would not possess. When he was finished with his verbal daydreams, the child asked the old man if he had ever heard of anything quite so fine. The old one thought for a moment and then replied, My son, every man has his quest in life, his search for fulfillment. Man has different names for his goals, but when each is reached it is known as peace. Peace is universally recognized to be the primary search of each individual; and in realization of this, the universality of peace has been chosen to be the theme of this yearbook. Peace is not a simple thing; its ways are as diverse as man himself; its moments of anguish in search of the truth are as numerous as its moments of surging joy when the goal has been reached. Students of Creighton University come from all parts of the world, and their goals are as diverse as the lands from which they come; but they each come here in search of obtaining peace in their life ' s quest — and it is with this that we hope they will return home. One day when they are old and wise like the blind man, they will know this strange lady who has haunted mankind, Peace, and will appreciate just how universal is her lure. M.E.R.

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Dr. Leo J. Jacks MAN needs friends, but not many. Only a tried friend is really a friend. . . . MUSIC is the voice of art calling to men to listen and learn. It speaks every lan- guage; it can rack civilized man and sav- age alike. It urges one to meditate. It can hold out heaven to man, and threaten him as well. . . . OUR PURPOSE IN LIFE is to work. Nothing worth while is accom- plished without effort. . . . WRITING is a fine art, just as is music or painting, and it makes a severe demand upon a student, because no amount of practice guarantees success. . . . PEACE is one of the most valuable things in the world, but there are a couple of things worth even more. Peace of mind, for one. If we have to retreat and retreat, while our cherished principles are disregarded or thown away to please ap- p easers, then the peace one gets is not worth having. . . . STUDENTS react to kindness well. I think on the whole they get too little of it. . . . UNIVERSAL MAN BELIEVES in moral values. Even the most criminal individual is angered when his rights are transgressed, no matter how little he respects the rights of others. . . . THE JESUIT MIND is marked by a good mixture of versatility and thoroughness. It is pre- eminently fitted to be a teaching mind. . . . COLEGE HUMOR reflects the tone of the institution.