For many at Loyola, there is little separation between the appeal of the university and the city in which it resides. The two have been inherently intertwined since Loyola’s inception a century ago. In recent years, they have come to share a story of destruction and rebirth.
For this, the establishment of the Center for the Study of New Orleans is an invaluable addition to Loyola.
The Center for the Study of New Orleans will be the first ever course program focusing on the study of a city. Loyola is fortunate to be able to set a precedent and create a program like it.
New Orleans has a unique history and culture that are not studied enough. The tragedy of Hurricane Katrina demonstrated the fragility of preserving this story.
The formation of the program, however, provides the foundation for protecting it. The Loyola community, as well as those outside of the university, will be able to better understand the city that makes the Loyola experience worthwhile.
Despite the magnitude of the tragedy following Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans has lost the nation’s attention.
President Obama recently angered New Orleans residents by vacationing during the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. It seemed like another example of the government’s neglect of the city and ignorance to the suffering of its residents, and in many ways, it was.
The founding of the Center for the Study of New Orleans is a hopeful response to those sentiments.
The program is also a positive response to those who believe New Orleans should not be rebuilt by highlighting the reasons for preserving the city’s future.
Offering a minor in New Orleans studies will allow students to learn more about the city and become more passionate about its future.
It also directly corresponds with Loyola’s ideals. The center exemplifies social justice as a program designed to aid in the restoration of New Orleans through education, as well as actual rebuilding with a service learning component.
The enthusiastic reaction to the center’s concert on Sept. 3, demonstrated its popularity within the community. The program will increase the likelihood of bringing in influential figures to the university, as well as national attention.
If the program is well executed, the possibilities it will bring to the university will be countless.
With proper university and community support, the Center for the Study of New Orleans has the chance of becoming a strong force in sustaining the city’s future.
So much remains at stake in New Orleans, but the center represents the vehicle for creating proper changes. That is, it promises a future upheld by education and service.
Therefore, the university’s work in creating this program must be recognized. Students should take full advantage of its establishment and learn as much as possible about the great city in which they attend school. The program will elevate the educational opportunities Loyola offers.
The Center for the Study of New Orleans provides hope for a city that is in such dire need of it and offers the possibility of viable solutions for the future.
