Ms. Robin Moll
Vice President of Institutional Advancement
Cabrini College
610 King of Prussia Rd
Radnor, PA 19087

February 8, 2005

Dear Ms. Moll 

It is with heavy heart, yet clear conscience, that I formerly resign my position as Cabrini College Class of 1992 class agent. I can no longer pretend to myself that the actions taken against John Dzik can be compartmentalized and separated from my love of my alma mater. My deceased immigrant father’s broken-English voice rings inside my head, “If you don’t stand for anything, you’ll fall for everything.”

After weeks of trying to separate the recent events, tempering my actions to not seem rash, and sequestering my anger, I can no longer sit back and associate myself with an institution that treats a man of Dzik’s caliber this way.

It would be the utmost of hypocrisy on my part to remain an integral part of the college alumni association. It would be difficult to ask fellow classmates to support an institution I no longer can. It would be unfair to pretend that nothing has happened. In short, I could not look myself in the mirror and feel good about my association with this administration.

I’ve spoken to Dzik directly about this matter following the decision and telling him of my conflicted heart. To his credit, he never asked or steered me towards the direction of severing ties. In fact, he spoke of Cabrini always being my college and that he was just an employee there. Even in this time of personal strife, he was as magnanimous as ever. It became apparent as I attended his final home game on February 16; many others felt the same way I did. I could no longer lie to myself and think that the situation would resolve itself or “go away.”

At first confused, later flummoxed, and eventually angry, I kept waiting for cooler and rational heads to resolve this matter in a proper and respectable fashion towards Dzik. Either the eternal optimist, or naïve dreamer, I kept waiting for a press release, a clear reasoning, or a change of action on the part of the college concerning this matter. As the calendar has advanced to March, it is sadly apparent that nothing will be done to rectify the matter at hand. By pretending it will go away, I guess I was keeping the same “party line” as the institution concerning this matter. Only my conscience realized that it was never “going away.” Thus, as Dzik’s association with Cabrini College ends this month, so does mine.

In my short time as class agent, I have enjoyed working with the members of the Alumni Office. It goes without saying that you are all in a difficult and (I am sure for some of you) an equally-conflicting position of the heart. From a practical standpoint, this matter is also bad for business. This administrative decision doesn’t just upset a “few alumni athletes.” This decision affects a large body of alumni, many of whom had nothing to do with athletics.

Fundraising at an institution of Cabrini’s size (with its handicaps of young institution age and limited income of most of its alums) is never easy. All of the alums writing the letters to stop any association with Cabrini are the ones who care enough to associate themselves as alums. They are the ones that go to the events and give to the annual fund. Do the math. Check the names of the angry letters to the donors list. Chances are they match those who give to the annual fund or attend alumni events. Those who could care less about Cabrini after they graduate, who don’t even open the letters of annual-giving are, most likely, the least affected by this administrative decision.

Those that could care less are not the ones who are angry. Those that care are.

There are many testimonials to Dzik. And it goes without saying his importance in my life. The one common denominator in all these testimonials is that Dzik cared. For his quarter century of service to this college he cared about it, its people, its mission, and its core values. This administrative decision shows the college no longer cares.

I meant what I wrote in my letter to the class in January when I invited classmates to “rediscover Cabrini in mind and spirit.” I stated then:

“Think of how this institution made you feel. Recall the special relationship you had with the place at large. Respond to the warmth you feel when you recall those days. That feeling just isn’t the haze of time at work. That feeling is a strong bond to a place that has formed the core fabric of values in which you lead your life. That feeling is the spirit which comes through in your occupation. That feeling is what you now instill upon your children as you become a parent.

It appears that the caring and inclusive vision of Mother Cabrini still permeates the campus, still drives the faculty, staff and students, and still forms a focus of vision. Visit and find out for yourself. Rediscover Cabrini in body, mind, and spirit.”

Those words, I am sad to say, are no longer applicable. My association with Cabrini College is not gone forever. After all, I am an alumus as long as I breathe. My solace is that those that have done this action to Dzik will not be employed there that long.

Sincerely yours,

Carlo Iacono
Class of 1992

cc: Dr. Antoinette Iadarola
Dr. Christine Lysionek
Ms. Leslie Danehy
Mrs. Martha Dale
The Loquitur