2008 Woodie Awards
The President's Desk: Bring Jesuit ideals onto campus
Michael McDonald '08
Issue date: 2/21/07 Section: Features
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I'm sure all of you have been following this closely - hopefully this will satisfy your appetites for a taste of what is to come from Senate during the next semesters.
Initiative Six reads that I will strive, as student body president, to "support current efforts and develop new plans for the increased embrace and prevalence of the Jesuit mission and identity around our campus through facilities projects, academic affairs, student life, and all other facets of the University."
Saint Joseph's University is Philadelphia's Jesuit University, one of 28 across America.
Whether you know it or not, this distinction of being "Jesuit" bears with it weighty recognition. The Society of Jesus is historically renowned for its focus on rigorous and holistic education.
Our massive GER is a result of the Jesuits' love of the liberal arts, and the belief that faith (theology) and reason (philosophy) are the pillars of an excellent education.
Saint Joseph's is special because of its commitments to instilling the Jesuit ideals, namely, men and women for others, cura personalis, finding God in all things, and the Magis, to list the most popular.
Social justice, intellectual refinement (and freedom), and a spirit of introspection are all things that we as Jesuit students should strive for.
And all that, coming from the one word, "Jesuit." We should be proud of this and be aware of what it means for the people that we are to growing to become.
St. Joe's is currently on its fabled "path to preeminence"; this is all well and good, but your Student Senate recognizes that St. Joe's should become preeminent based upon what is unique to it and not based upon what other institutions have established as preeminent.
One of the easiest ways to start doing this is by increasing the prevalence of the Jesuit-ness of this campus. Your Student Senate is looking at ways to work with the administration and other student organizations in order to increase tangible Jesuit elements around Hawk Hill.
Some possibilities include purchasing a simple statue of St. Ignatius, hanging prayers of the early Jesuits around campus buildings, and working with facilities to beautify and St. Joe's-ify some lackluster landscaping around the college grounds.
These tangible improvements are only part of Initiative Six - we also will strive to ensure that the mission of our University does not get left out in the curriculum review, the renovation of Maguire Campus, and the development of a first-year experience for freshmen.
It is time that our mantra of spirit, intellect, and purpose gets off of our website, onto our campus and into our classrooms to be displayed to all who travel through our beautiful University.
Initiative Six reads that I will strive, as student body president, to "support current efforts and develop new plans for the increased embrace and prevalence of the Jesuit mission and identity around our campus through facilities projects, academic affairs, student life, and all other facets of the University."
Saint Joseph's University is Philadelphia's Jesuit University, one of 28 across America.
Whether you know it or not, this distinction of being "Jesuit" bears with it weighty recognition. The Society of Jesus is historically renowned for its focus on rigorous and holistic education.
Our massive GER is a result of the Jesuits' love of the liberal arts, and the belief that faith (theology) and reason (philosophy) are the pillars of an excellent education.
Saint Joseph's is special because of its commitments to instilling the Jesuit ideals, namely, men and women for others, cura personalis, finding God in all things, and the Magis, to list the most popular.
Social justice, intellectual refinement (and freedom), and a spirit of introspection are all things that we as Jesuit students should strive for.
And all that, coming from the one word, "Jesuit." We should be proud of this and be aware of what it means for the people that we are to growing to become.
St. Joe's is currently on its fabled "path to preeminence"; this is all well and good, but your Student Senate recognizes that St. Joe's should become preeminent based upon what is unique to it and not based upon what other institutions have established as preeminent.
One of the easiest ways to start doing this is by increasing the prevalence of the Jesuit-ness of this campus. Your Student Senate is looking at ways to work with the administration and other student organizations in order to increase tangible Jesuit elements around Hawk Hill.
Some possibilities include purchasing a simple statue of St. Ignatius, hanging prayers of the early Jesuits around campus buildings, and working with facilities to beautify and St. Joe's-ify some lackluster landscaping around the college grounds.
These tangible improvements are only part of Initiative Six - we also will strive to ensure that the mission of our University does not get left out in the curriculum review, the renovation of Maguire Campus, and the development of a first-year experience for freshmen.
It is time that our mantra of spirit, intellect, and purpose gets off of our website, onto our campus and into our classrooms to be displayed to all who travel through our beautiful University.
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