The following comes from a January 7 Cardinal Newman Society Catholic Education Daily article by Adam Cassandra:
Responding to a list of “demands” by student groups focused on racial and LGBTQ issues, a University of San Diego (USD) official told The Cardinal Newman Society there are items on the list “that are inconsistent with our Catholic identity,” and that such proposals would be vetted through a process of working with students to initiate change “in a constructive and respectful fashion.”
Marlow told the Newman Society that the newly installed University president, Dr. James Harris, who began his tenure this past August, recently met with four of the students involved with publishing the demands “to help steer them toward submitting their ideas via the strategic planning process” currently underway at the University. The process, scheduled for completion by early fall, is collecting “ideas for the future” from USD student groups, faculty, alumni, administrators, trustees, community members and other friends of USD.
The list of 22 demands made by “concerned students” focuses mainly on racial issues “in solidarity with the Black student activists of [University of Missouri],” and a similar list of demands by USD students appears on the website of the Black Liberation Collective. But there are also several LGBT and gender identity issues listed among the demands, including calls to have:
-The installation of gender-neutral bathrooms in every building on campus.
-The development of a Gender and Queer Studies department with at least 12 full-time faculty.
-More people of color, queer-identified people and women represented in positions of administrative and student leadership.
-The active inclusion of cultural, LGBT and feminist student organizations in the planning of campus events related to the concerns of these organizations.
-The creation of a comprehensive orientation on racial, gender, and queer inclusion and diversity, mandatory to students, staff, faculty and administration.
-An increase in resources and support groups for queer and trans students of color.
The Newman Society asked Marlow if he could identify the items on the list of student demands that are inconsistent with the University’s Catholic identity. He responded saying “there is not one fixed list of demands” as of yet, and a “more constructive/thoughtful list” could be presented to Harris by the students later this month after they return from break.
One of the demands highlighted in a report by The College Fix was that the University change the name of Serra Hall after the administration acknowledged “the colonialist legacy” of Saint Junípero Serra, who according to the students “massacred the vast majority of native peoples in California.”
“The University is not going to change the name of Serra Hall based on the rationale presented” by the students, Marlow told the Newman Society. He added that Harris sees the entire situation as “a teaching moment for the students.”
“Dr. Harris prefers to meet face-to-face with students and explain how best to go about initiating change in a constructive and respectful fashion,” said Marlow. “He wants to advise them how to channel their energy in ways that appeal to broad audiences and to understand the trade-offs that would have to be made with various ideas, and most importantly, to understand how to approach these topics at a Catholic University and within the context of Catholic intellectual tradition, which has always encouraged, embraced and debated the diversity of ideas.”
Charles LiMandri, founder of the group Alumni for a Catholic USD, told the Newman Society that the nature of the students’ demands “are probably reflective of much of what they’re being taught by a secular and anti-Catholic faculty.”
“There are so many secular faculty there now and people hostile towards the magisterial teaching of the Catholic Church,” he said. LiMandri, who used to run USD’s alumni program, has been critical of the University’s commitment to defending its Catholic identity in recent years, calling specific attention to an annual “drag queen show” sponsored by USD since 2012.
Why is San Diego University called a Catholic institution? For years it has promoted homosexual causes, has faculty who are atheists and/or anti-Catholic. It should be stripped of its Catholic name, including the name of a saint: San Diego. Does Bishop McElroy know about this, and what is he going to do about it?
Oh Sarah the bishops know about this and that is the problem, nothing will change.
Bishop McElroy is a HORSE LAUGH! Big, liberal, phony Catholic! He has always been in great sympathy, with gay causes! What a mess this is! The Catholic Church needs to take control of its parishes, schools, charities, hospitals, and all other institutions, worldwide– and see to it, that they all are CATHOLIC!! That is the one and ONLY way, to ensure so-called “Catholic identity!!” Otherwise– so-called “Catholic” institutions, such as USD– might as well sever all ties, to the Catholic Church!!
What makes you think the Catholic Church is not already in control? You admit that Bishop McElroy does nothing. Yet he’s the bishop isn’t he? The problem isn’t lack of control or authority – the problem is the episcopacy is just as liberal as the institutions you complain about. The Church hierarchy doesn’t see a problem that needs correction.
Theses awful participating students should be EXPELLED. They have no reason for inflicting upon what is suppose to be a catholic university with such temptation and sin. They are not catholic, no good, rather evil out to destroy the university and the church.
The backboneless faculty giving into these awful students, ought to have their records reviewed for continued employment. Any without courage and leadership should be dismissed from the university’s payroll.
No doubt the founding Bishop B. would not stand for it and is probably turning over in his grave.
This is not a Catholic University.
” Dr. James Harris, who began his tenure this past August, recently met with four of the students involved with publishing the demands “to help steer them toward submitting their ideas via the strategic planning process…” As a long time community college instructor, I can tell you that permitting these ideas to enter the strategic planning process is the proverbial camel’s nose under the tent. Ideas that make it to this level will generally find voice and once put into the planning documents will find application down the road.
Since when do students dictate how a university is run? An outright NO to all their demands is the right answer.
I agree with the post of Peggy! The very first day a kid goes to school, their parents must teach the child RESPECT!! Same with the Church! RESPECT GOD!! For those kids who are not mature enough– they are not ready for school, and should all stay at home! To attend a school or a church, is a PRIVILEGE!! And a big responsibility, too!!
Sell the property. Convert it to a resort hotel.
Perhaps these students, who do not represent all students at USD, should consider enrolling an another institution of higher learning. Cuyamaca Community College probably has room for additional students.
No group of students represent “all” students. But the problem at USD is that protests such as these really are not far beyond the liberal mainstream which dominates the cultural environment at the school. These students may be the most radical, but they’re just the leaders of the pack. A very sizable plurality is not far behind. The university’s unrelenting dissent against Catholic orthodoxy created this monster. Now it will have to figure out what it wants to do about it, if anything.
Why disparage community colleges?
Remember, todays students generally are the alumni of twenty years from now, upon whom most universities rely for a good part of their funding.
None of these student demands are worth anything, and President Harris should tell them so. However, using the “demand process” as a teaching moment is sound. St. Junipero Serra was not a mass killer of California Indians, for example, is one area of needed correction. These students, if they are students, simply need to accept that they are at a Catholic college, or leave for the pagan-centered UC or CSU systems.
I’m sorry, but I can’t understand why people keep saying, asserting etc. that USD is a Catholic school. Officially it is, but in practice it is not. This school is one of the most wayward Catholic colleges in the country. The students who should leave are the ones who care about fidelity to the faith. Their faith would be far less at risk at a public school. The problem with “Catholic” schools such as USD is that they make it their raison d’etre to carry on a facsimile of the faith which includes “enlightened’ positions on every liberal’s agenda while scandalizing the lambs into dissent. Parents beware.
Very sad to see my Alma Mater gone. I graduated in 1985. My daughter asked me if she was going there. Sadly I will not let her and explained why. I’ll be taking her to see Ave Maria in Florida. The Alumni sends me emails of events and fundraising and I won’t show up or give any time or money to USD. I pray for this place to change its course back to catholicism.