Villanova University

  Villanova University has named Patrick G. Maggitti the new dean of the School of Business, effective June 1. Maggitti will succeed James Danko, who left on July 31 to become president of Butler University. His post has been filled in the interim by Kevin Clark. Maggitti, 44 and part of Villanova's faculty since 2008, is currently director of the school's Center for Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship, where he is also assistant professor of strategic management and entrepreneurship.

Villanova University has abruptly canceled a weeklong workshop by a gay performance artist whose stage shows are often laced with nudity and simulated sex but who has taught and lectured at numerous colleges, including the nation's largest Catholic university, DePaul, in Chicago. Tim Miller, whom the Los Angeles Times once called the "patron saint of the gay performance world" and who was one of four envelope-pushing artists whose funding the National Endowment for the Arts revoked in 1990, said he was told Sunday night by the professor who booked the workshop that Villanova's president, the Rev. Peter M. Donohue, had canceled the event without giving a reason.

Debra Furia Scalpato, 55, of Villanova, a teacher at Merion Mercy Academy, died of sarcoma Monday, March 12, at Fox Chase Cancer Center. From 1997, until becoming ill in 2010, Mrs. Scalpato was on the faculty at Merion Mercy, a private Catholic girls school. She taught math, biology, and chemistry and initiated the chemistry advanced-placement program. Mrs. Scalpato grew up in South Philadelphia and Havertown and graduated from Merion Mercy Academy in 1974. In the school's alumna magazine, she described how she met her future husband, Anthony M. Scalpato.

Villanova University abruptly canceled a weeklong workshop by a gay performance artist whose stage shows are often laced with nudity and simulated sex but who has taught and lectured at numerous colleges, including the nation's largest Catholic university, DePaul, in Chicago. Tim Miller, who the Los Angeles Times once called the "patron saint of the gay performance world" and who was one of four envelope-pushing artists to have funding yanked by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1990, said he was told Sunday night by the professor who booked the workshop that Villanova President, Rev. Peter M. Donahue, had canceled the event.

Several high schools sent jazz bands to Villanova University on Saturday to compete in the Villanova Jazz Festival, in the Jake Nevin Field House. At stake was a chance to open for Dave Brubeck.

For AIDS Awareness Week, Villanova University exhibited part of the Names Project AIDS Quilt, including eight panels by the college community. Student Tara Travia read names of the dead Thursday.

Villanova University president the Rev. Peter M. Donohue said he canceled a performance by a gay performance artist because of the subject matter, not the artist's sexual orientation. Faced with growing questions from students and others about the decision, Donohue issued a statement Wednesday evening to the Villanova community explaining his reason for banning a weeklong workshop by Tim Miller. "As an artist and a priest, I find the choices that Mr. Miller makes to be disturbing," wrote Donohue, former director of Villanova's theater department.

From space to Villanova University go a few items that astronaut and Villanova graduate Andy Allen contributed to the sesquicentennial exhibit called "Villanova College to University: 150 Years of Augustinian Tradition and Promise, 1842-1992 " at the Connelly Center on Tuesday.

Demonstrators refused to let Villanova University close the book on the library science program without a fight when they protested Saturday night. School officials say their decision to phase out library science is due to the high cost of getting it accredited.

The Rev. Henry Francis Weeks, 69, a member of the community of St. Thomas Monastery, Villanova University, died Sept. 18. Father Weeks was born in Linwood, Pa. He attended the parochial schools of Holy Spirit in Sharon Hill, and Our Mother of Good Counsel in Bryn Mawr. In 1933, he entered the Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, N.Y., and upon graduation in 1937 entered the Good Counsel Novitiate at New Hamburg, N.Y. He professed his first vows in 1938 and final vows in 1941.

  Villanova University has named Patrick G. Maggitti the new dean of the School of Business, effective June 1. Maggitti will succeed James Danko, who left on July 31 to become president of Butler University. His post has been filled in the interim by Kevin Clark. Maggitti, 44 and part of Villanova's faculty since 2008, is currently director of the school's Center for Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship, where he is also assistant professor of strategic management and entrepreneurship.

Theater 1812 Productions: Boston Marriage David Mamet comedy about two women whose romantic entanglements lead to trouble. Closes 5/20. Plays & Players Theatre, 1714 Delancey Pl.; 215-592-9560. www.1812productions.org . $20-$36. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way ot the Forum A slave in ancient Rome tries to win a beautiful courtesan's hand. Closes 5/19. Ritz Theatre Company, 915 White Horse Pike, Oaklyn; 856-858-5230. $25-$35. A Wrinkle in Time Based on the novel by Madeleine L'Engle.

Daily News sports writer Mike Kern has been named the winner of the Gold Medal Award by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Philadelphia chapter. The honor is given "to the individual who has set the standard for excellence in a life of service to athletics in the Philadelphia area. " Past recipients include Ron Jaworski, Don Tollefson, Bob Levy, Al Shrier, Lou Tilley, Al Meltzer, Bill Campbell, Kevin Reilly and Leslie Gudel. The award will be presented at the organization's annual banquet May 9 at the Connelly Center at Villanova.

Theater Professional/semi-professional A Reptile Dysfunction Musical comedy. Closes 3/30. The Mask and Wig Club, 310 S Quince St.; Box Office: 215-586-3729. $30; $15 students. Azuka Theatre: Hope Street & Other Lonely Places Five Philadelphians united in loss & love search for answers in the big city. Closes 4/1. First Baptist Church, 123 S. 17th St.; 215-733-0255. www.azukatheatre.org. $22-$27. Brat Productions: Let's Start a War Satirical punk-themed cabaret show about a cocktail party where the kitchen staff are plotting to overthrow the rich.

Debra Furia Scalpato, 55, of Villanova, a teacher at Merion Mercy Academy, died of sarcoma Monday, March 12, at Fox Chase Cancer Center. From 1997, until becoming ill in 2010, Mrs. Scalpato was on the faculty at Merion Mercy, a private Catholic girls school. She taught math, biology, and chemistry and initiated the chemistry advanced-placement program. Mrs. Scalpato grew up in South Philadelphia and Havertown and graduated from Merion Mercy Academy in 1974. In the school's alumna magazine, she described how she met her future husband, Anthony M. Scalpato.

Some Villanova alumni and fans, it seems, are acting more immature than your average college student. Posters on a popular college sports message board, rivals.com, took potshots at residents who oppose the Catholic university's proposed $200 million expansion, which includes three dormitories, a six-story parking garage, stores, and a performing arts center. The residents belong to a newly formed group called Right Plan for Radnor. Rivals.com commentators singled out members of the group and their families for ridicule, using terms such as "overweight oaf," "gross," "imbecile," and "wild and horny" to describe them.

Robert C. Melzi, 96, of Bala Cynwyd, professor emeritus of Romance languages at Widener University, died Thursday, March 1, at home. Dr. Melzi was on the Widener faculty for 30 years and chaired the Romance language department in the 1970s. He also taught courses at the University of Pennsylvania, St. Joseph's University, Villanova University, and Bryn Mawr College. In 1967, Dr. Melzi, an expert on Dante, wrote Castelvetro's Annotations to the 'Inferno': A New Perspective in Sixteenth Century Criticism . After 11 years of work, in 1973 he published the Bantam New College Italian-English Dictionary . "Up until now," he told the Philadelphia Daily News, "the bilingual dictionary for the most part reflected the tastes, culture, and language of Great Britain.