USD Magazine Spring 2006

[ Q ] I S F O R QUA L I T Y O F L I F E

The Thanksgiving House project is all about improving the quality of life

for an older Linda Vista resident who may not be able to keep up with

home repairs. Graduate students and other volunteers gather resources

and learn to do painting, plumbing, carpentry —whatever needs to be

done. They perform the work just before Thanksgiving, turning over a

much-improved home in time for the holiday. Professor Barbara Withers

began the project to provide valuable project management experience

[ R ]

I S FOR ROMERO CENTER

to business students, but the students get much more out of it. Meeting

No story about USD’s impact on the wider

the elderly blind man and his son who received the latest home

world would be complete without a shout-out

makeover was heartwarming, says Christy Soto, an M.B.A. student and

to the Oscar Romero Center for Faith in Action. An off-shoot of University

one of last fall’s two project managers. “They were very sweet, and I think

Ministry, the center runs immersion trips, consciousness-raising events

that really touched our hearts and drew us into the project,” she adds.

and ongoing programs that include preparing meals every Thursday at

To get involved, go to www.sandiego.edu/thanksgivinghouse.

downtown San Diego’s St. Vincent de Paul soup kitchen. Coordinator

Glen Davis says that outreach emphasizes theological reflection: “We

always talk about why we’re doing this,” he says. “We try to root our

actions in the principles of Catholic social teaching.” Call (619) 260-4897.

[ S ] I S F O R S E R V I C E

Led with serene capability by director Elaine Elliott, the Center for

Community-Service Learning is an incredibly busy place. More than 800

students signed up for CSL during the fall semester, with 100 more work

study students, not to mention the 600 or so who volunteer under their

own steam. When asked to point to a single program that epitomizes

campus philanthropy, Elliott simply laughs: “There’s the Social Issues

Committee and the Trans-Border Institute. And long-term service, like

the Peace Corps. And the law school clinics and the trips to Tijuana

and ...” To learn more, call (619) 260-4798.

SPRING 2006 33