A Letter from the Executive Director

CSC News & Reflections
Fall 2004

In the wake of the intense presidential election season and the election itself, we at the Center find ourselves reflecting on the impact of our nation’s youth. On campus this fall, we have seen a passionate, thoughtful and engaged student body listening and wanting to be heard. It is a well-worn bromide that they are our future, but in seeing their work on campus this fall, it could not be more true.

We are particularly proud of the students’ efforts with our campus Rock the Vote campaign. In developing this campaign, these students set a new standard for the quality and depth of their efforts to engage their fellow students and indeed the campus community. This was truly a non-partisan effort designed to engage those on the left and the right, to explore the impact of American policy domestically and abroad, discuss the role of religion in politics and to analyze public policy through the lens of Catholic social teaching. Through speakers, voter registration drives and rallies, they demanded to be players in the political process.

In supporting these efforts, the Center’s goal has been to help students understand the value of these efforts as a vital part of civic engagement and working for social change.

On another level, we have seen the impact of our students’ passion for change through their efforts to gain better wages and working conditions for migrant farm workers. While this passion is all their own, we hope that the Center and programs like the Migrant Experiences Seminar can deepen their understanding of such social problems and assist them in developing strategies for achieving change. As one of our students says in quoting Margaret Mead, herein, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” For the Center, our work begins with education and finds its expression through the ways we help students craft responses to what they have learned.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge one of the people that has brought this vision to fruition: Sue Cunningham. As the director of the Summer Service Project, she has helped us to build programs that set the standard for the ways a university can engage students, alumni and communities around the country. I am proud of the ways Sue has enhanced this community engagement pedagogy really before anyone thought to put those three words to paper. When she retires in December, her presence will be sorely missed. Her  legacy will be the wonderful relationships she has nurtured along with a program what will surely prosper even after she takes her leave. In these days of thanksgiving, Sue is deep in our hearts and prayers, as are you!