Alcalá View 1989 5.7

can understand it, learn it and use it." The history buff credits a happy family life with his ability to handle the ups and downs of teaching. Married for seven years to a fellow University of Kansas graduate, DeLaTorre and his wife Pat have two sons: Ed­ ward, four, and Danny, two. "When Edward was born, it added a whole new perspec­ tive to my life. My priorities changed," says the proud father. DeLaTorre's dedication to his family is one reason he has "thoroughly enjoyed" San Diego. "San Diego has so many family-oriented things to do. . . Sea World, the Zoo, Pt. Loma, the Wild Animal Park." But that family dedication also is why the DeLaTorres have decided to return to the University of Kansas at the end of the academic year, rather than pursue a per­ manent position at USD. "My experience at USD has been absolutely perfect," DeLaTorre says. "But we want our children to be near their grandparents. And we enjoy living in a small town." The basketball aficionado believes the most important thing in life is "to contribute -to your community, your church, other people. I think it's important to give some­ thing back." DeLaTorre certainly scores well on that scale at USD.

From Kansas wheatfields to California beaches

By Jacqueline Genovese

How does a small town kid from Kansas-away from home for the first time - adapt to life in the hal­ lowed halls of Harvard Law School? "It was a little hard at first," admits Phillip DeLa­ Torre, visiting law professor from the University of Kan­ sas. But that's not surprising. DeLaTorre had seen the ocean but once before arriv­ ing in Cambridge. And even Italian food was a delicious mystery still to be dis­ covered. "In Cambridge, I was in­ troduced to ethnic neighbor­ hoods and ethnic food. It was wonderful, especially the Italian food," he says laugh­ ing. It was while attending Harvard that DeLaTorre's own teaching philosophy was molded. Two of his profes­ sors brought a stimulating en­ thusiasm to the classroom that made those classes his favorites. The boyish-looking professor didn't forget the value of that lesson. He strives to bring a similar en­ thusiasm to his own classes. And according to his stu­ dents, past and present, it is

Phillip DeLaTorre

bazaar, organize the local fies­ ta, or to start up Little League, people always looked to my father," DeLa­ Torre explains. His father's example led DeLaTorre to law school. "It was the one way-given my talents, my style-that I thought I could contribute the most," he says. DeLaTorre decided to pur­ sue a teaching career after practicing corporate law for two years. "I liked practicing, but I didn't like the setting I was in," he says. On the other hand, "I loved teaching from the very beginning," he laughs. "My sole mission is to break the material down so students "This is usually avoided if a device called the potential transfonner is working," Manion said, "but it was dis­ covered that the potential transfonner was damaged, and therefore the main breaker continued to trip."

that very enthusiasm that makes DeLaTorre such a good professor. Actually, there doesn't seem to be much that DeLa­ Torre isn't enthusiastic about. Or happy about. The reason behind that rosy outlook perhaps is ex­ pressed best by the words De­ LaTorre uses to describe his father. "He knows what he is about, and likes what he is about, he is self-confident and self-content. He is happy with what life has given h. " un. DeLaTorre's father, a blue-collar worker with a high-school education, is looked upon as a community leader. "To head the church

Manion said it would be at least a few weeks before a new potential transformer is in place. "Meanwhile," he added, "precautions have been taken that will hopefully prevent further outages."

a gas curtailment phase," Manion explained. The curtailment involved shutting off the co-generation system, which in turn gave the main breaker a false read­ ing, causing it to trip.

Mother Nature

(Continuedfrom page 1)

gas line, which supplies most of San Diego's gas. "There­ fore, the university went into