LOS ANGELES, March 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mexico, New York City
and Catalina Island all sound like typical spring break destinations for
college students, but a group of 150 LMU students found excitement in the
unordinary. These are just three of the 11 destinations traveled to by
students participating in alternative spring breaks at Loyola Marymount
University.
Each trip lasts seven days and has a specific focus guiding the service
done by students. Some of the highlights from this year's spring break
trips include working with the HIV/AIDS community in San Francisco, dealing
with issues of civil war and Jesuit martyrs in El Salvador, and
experiencing border issues and femicide in Juarez, Mexico. A trip to New
Orleans had students continuing in the restoration efforts where almost all
of the rebuilding being done there is by college student volunteers. A
unique experience occurred for students on the trip to Tianguistengo,
Mexico. For three days, students were completely immersed in a community
that has not been visited by outsiders in 30 years.
Organized by the Center for Service and Action, the Alternative Break
program is in its seventh year and continuing on an upward path.
Applications increase each year, and just in this year 190 students will
have participated in an alternative break. The overwhelming success of the
Alternative Break program is due in large part to the support given by the
university. Whether it is time, money or staff participation, the
commitment to social justice that LMU is known for helps to perpetuate the
program, so that it can continue to excel far beyond expectations. Not only
was there student participation, but Fr. Michael Engh, S.J., Dean of the
College of Liberal Arts, and Richard Plumb, Dean of the College of Science
and Engineering, along with numerous staff members, were in attendance.
Many of the students that return from the trips experience life
changing moments. They come back to LMU with a different perspective on the
world and often with changes in their life plans and career paths. Students
also become connected over a common cause, many of whom would never have
bonded otherwise.
"Alternative Breaks are about learning and making connections with
people. The trips are about cultural immersion, living in solidarity and
building friendships that put a face to the issues," explains Joanne
Majewski, Alternative Break program coordinator.
List of destinations for alternative spring break trips and their
focus:
Central Valley, CA: Farm Workers' Rights
San Francisco, CA: HIV/AIDS
Catalina Island, CA: Environmental Restoration
Chicago, IL: Inner-City Youth
New Orleans, LA: Hurricane Katrina Reconstruction
New York, NY: Homelessness/Advocacy
Maryville, TN: Environmental Preservation
El Salvador: Civil War/Jesuit Martyrs
San Lucas, Guatemala: Construction in Mayan Communities
Juarez, Mexico: Border Issues/Femicide
Tianguistengo, Mexico: Rural Community Immersion
About Loyola Marymount University
Located between the Pacific Ocean and downtown Los Angeles, Loyola
Marymount University is a comprehensive university offering a variety of
undergraduate and graduate degrees. Founded in 1911, LMU is the largest
Catholic institution of higher education on the West Coast with nearly
5,500 undergraduate students and more than 3,000 graduate and law students.
Students can choose from more than 80 majors and programs in four colleges,
two schools and Loyola Law School. For more LMU news and events, please
visit http://www.lmu.edu/news.
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