Congratulating Loyola University Chicago on 150 Years

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, this year, Loyola University Chicago celebrates the 150th anniversary of its founding, which occurred on September 5, 1870. Loyola Chicago is a world-class institution with a storied history as a Roman Catholic Jesuit university, a strong track record of academic excellence, and the proud home of the Loyola Ramblers.

Loyola University Chicago was founded under the name of St. Ignatius College by Arnold Damen, S.J., to serve Chicago's Catholic immigrants. In 1909, the school was granted a new charter by the State of Illinois and renamed ``Loyola University Chicago''. That same year, the newly- named Loyola Chicago granted its first professional graduate degrees and organized its first football, basketball, and indoor baseball teams. Today, Loyola Chicago is the only Jesuit Catholic university in Illinois.

Throughout its history, Loyola Chicago has upheld its Jesuit values-- being an institution of rigorous liberal arts education and academic excellence, while also being a place of inclusion and acceptance for marginalized communities, including immigrants. Loyola Chicago's Stritch School of Medicine led the country as the first medical school to accept DACA recipients, many of whom have committed to working in a medically-underserved community in Illinois after graduation.

In addition, under its previous president, Father Michael Garanzini, Loyola Chicago created Arrupe College. Arrupe is a 2-year degree program that brings Loyola Chicago's academic quality together with a focus on affordability and care for the whole person. Arrupe's low-cost and wrap-around services--including meals, chilcare, and transportation--bring a high-quality Loyola Chicago education to low- income and students of color in the Chicagoland area who otherwise may not have a chance to succeed in college.

Loyola Chicago's focus on service is part of the fabric of the institution and its community. Loyola Chicago supports more than 300 community partner organizations in Chicago and the Chicagoland suburbs through student, staff, and faculty service and volunteer work. Loyola Chicago's impact can be found almost anywhere in the Chicagoland area.

Illinois has been served well and enriched by the many contributions of Loyola University Chicago. I look forward to the school's many contributions in the years ahead and several more successful runs at the NCAA basketball tournament being led by their team chaplain, the now world famous Jean Dolores Schmidt, known to all as simply Sister Jean.

I thank Loyola for its many contributions to our State and country. It is my distinct honor to congratulate President Jo Anne Rooney--the school's first female president--and the entire Loyola community of staff, faculty, students, and alumni on your 150th anniversary.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source