AMU Experience Will Strengthen Their Faith, Students told at Convocation
Details
Published on Saturday, 04 September 2010 00:14
Students at Ave Maria University are lucky to be attending a university that will support their Catholic faith, author and sociologist Anne Hendershot said Friday afternoon at the school's fall convocation. (Above, Mrs. Hendershott with AMU Dean of Faculty Michael Dauphinais.)
Mrs. Hendershott, a professor of Urban Affairs at King's College in New York City, told students and faculty gathered in the student union ballroom that AMU is different from most other Catholic colleges in the United States because, "You are surrounded here by people who love the faith and love God."
Her most recent book, Status Envy: The Politics of Catholic Higher Education, examines how the Catholic identity has been steadily disappearing from U.S. Catholic colleges and universities.
"Do you know how lucky you are," she asked? "Like when your mother said ‘eat your dinner because there are kids starving in the world.' Make the most of your education because I'm telling you, there are kids starving for the truth on other Catholic campuses."
The experience at AMU, she said to the students, will help make them strong in their faith in a world that will be constantly challenging their Catholic values.
Recalling the experience of her son at West Point, she said, "In a way you are preparing for battle here. Just like West Point cadets are preparing to battle Al Qaeda, you are preparing to battle secularism and anti-Catholicism - people who are trying to take your faith away."
"Be strong," she said.
At the start of the convocation, Jack Sites, the university's vice-president for academic affairs, announced the promotion of four professors to the rank of associate professor: Literature professor and department chair Dr. Travis Curtright; Classics professor Dr. Andrew Dinan; Theology professor Dr. Marc Guerra; Economics professor and department chair Gabriel Martinez.
Following the formalities, Mrs. Hendershott joined faculty and students who received academic honors in last year's spring term for a reception. (Right, Mrs. Hendershott with AMU Sophomore Sarah Pakaluk. Below, with senior Marina Herndez at left and junior Bailey Sympson.)
Mrs. Hendershott, a professor of Urban Affairs at King's College in New York City, told students and faculty gathered in the student union ballroom that AMU is different from most other Catholic colleges in the United States because, "You are surrounded here by people who love the faith and love God."
At the start of the convocation, Jack Sites, the university's vice-president for academic affairs, announced the promotion of four professors to the rank of associate professor: Literature professor and department chair Dr. Travis Curtright; Classics professor Dr. Andrew Dinan; Theology professor Dr. Marc Guerra; Economics professor and department chair Gabriel Martinez.
Following the formalities, Mrs. Hendershott joined faculty and students who received academic honors in last year's spring term for a reception. (Right, Mrs. Hendershott with AMU Sophomore Sarah Pakaluk. Below, with senior Marina Herndez at left and junior Bailey Sympson.)