June 2006

PRESS RELEASE: Loyola Community Service Office to Change Name

The Center for Values and Service, Loyola's community service office, will change its name to the Center for Community Service and Justice on June 1. The organization's mission—to engage students and the broader Loyola College community in education through service for a just and equitable world, will remain the same.

"Based on feedback from students and parents in recent years, especially during Orientation, we learned that the name 'Center for Values and Service' does not clearly describe our work and purpose," says Sister Catherine "Missy" Gugerty, S.S.N.D, director of the Center. "People did not immediately understand that we are the College's community service office. It's always good for people interested in our work to ask for more information, but when our name requires clarification, that means students interested in community service need to take extra steps to find us."

Center leaders have been contemplating a name change for a number of years and considered several other options, consulted many constituencies (including the co-founders of the Center) before deciding on the Center for Community Service and Justice.

Please click here to learn more about this name change process and timeline.

Special Legislative Update on closing SOA/WHINSEC

June 1, 2006

Next week, the week of June 5, Congress will vote on an amendment to close the SOA/WHINSEC. Rep. Jim McGovern (MA) will introduce an amendment to the Foreign Operations appropriations bill to cut funding for the SOA/WHINSEC!

We expect a close vote and need as many people as possible flooding the offices of the House of Representatives with calls in support of a YES vote on the amendment. This is it! And it's the people power of our movement that will get this amendment passed! Visit the Legislative Action Index for more information: www.soaw.org/legislative.

• National Call-in Days to Close the SOA/WHINSEC
• Tuesday, June 6 and Wednesday, June 7: Call Congress at 202-224-3121 or toll free at 888-355-3588.

Please take the time to call the D.C. office of your representative through the Capitol Hill Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or toll free at 1-888-355-3588. Ask to speak with the foreign affairs legislative assistant. Here is a suggested message for you to convey:

"I am calling Congressman/woman ________ to urge him/her to vote YES on the McGovern amendment to the Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. This amendment is a cut in funding for the School of the Americas/WHINSEC. New information indicates that WHINSEC has allowed known human rights abusers to instruct and receive training at the school. Argentina and Uruguay are two more countries that have made public announcements they will no longer send students to the school, citing the negative image and history of this institution. Voting YES on this amendment sends a positive human rights message to Latin America and will help to improve the U.S. image abroad. As an elected official in Washington D.C., I hope you will represent me and vote YES on any amendment in the House that would cut funding for the school."

Are you in or near Washington, D.C.? On Tuesday, June 6 and Wednesday, June 7, we will be delivering material to Members of Congress and knocking on their doors, asking them to join our movement and vote to close the SOA. Please join us! If you can be with us for some or all of the day on Tuesday or Wednesday, please email Eric at elecompte@soaw.org

For more information, visit the SOA Watch website at www.SOAW.org and the Legislative Action Index at www.soaw.org/legislative.

SOA Watch's postal address is P.O. Box 4566, Washington, D.C. 20017.

News source:

Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns:
Peace, Social Justice & Integrity of Creation
PO Box 29132
Washington DC 20017
ph (202)832-1780
fax (202)832-5195
ogc@maryknoll.org
www.maryknoll.org/globalconcerns
www.maryknollogc.org