Major Expansion

CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY, Nov. 4 — Ground has been broken for a substantial expansion of the highly successful Newman center at the University of Illinois’ Champaign-Urbana campus, including a full residence hall with cafeteria, and a colonial-style church.

“The St. John's Newman Center is not only the largest of its kind in the country, but it has been called the standard [after] which many other Newman centers and ministries model themselves,” reported the news agency.

Msgr. Stewart Swetland is the driving force of St. John's, directing the work of six full-time priests and three religious sisters at a center that serves 2,500 students at weekend Masses.

Religion Disappeared

ST. PETERSBURG TIMES, Nov. 3 — The Hillsborough County School Board in Tampa, Fla., has decided to eliminate excused absences for religious observances such as Jewish holidays and Catholic holy days of obligation.

The process that led to the decision began when local Muslims asked that Islamic students be similarly given a day off for Eid al-Fitr, the day marking the end of Ramadan while school remains in session.

Christian and other community leaders faulted the district for effectively promoting secularism and failing to accommodate the religious needs of students.

None Dare Call It ‘Gay'

INSIDEHIGHERED.COM, Nov. 10 — Georgetown University will provide health insurance for same-sex partners of faculty and staff members, starting Jan. 1.

“More colleges each year provide some benefits for gay professors’ partners, but the trend is notably less evident at Catholic institutions, making Georgetown's move significant,” reported the website.

The policy covers “legally domiciled adults” and avoids language that would seem to approve the homosexual lifestyle, which everyone interviewed seemed to understand was a necessary — but meaningless — accommodation of the university's Catholic and Jesuit origins.

Rosary Ban ‘Hasty'

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER, Nov. 3 — A ban on wearing rosary beads around the neck was instituted at schools in Lake Chelah, Wash., following a training session with a police officer who told officials that wearing a rosary can be a sign of gang activity, particularly among Latinos.

The ban “may have been too hasty,” reported the newspaper as several students refused to shed their beads — with the backing of their parents and clergy.

School Superintendent Jim Busey said the ban was poorly communicated and that “expressions of faith” will be accommodated.

“We're going to get it resolved,” he said.

New Institute

UNIVERSITY OF DALLAS, Nov. 7 — The university's Graduate School of Management has established the M.R. & Evelyn Hudson Not-for-Profit Leadership Institute with a $20,000 grant from the Hudson Foundation of Dallas.

The new institute will complement the university's MBA program for those who work in the not-for-profit sector, one of only eight such programs in the nation.

The Leadership Institute will seek to offer applied research and management ideas and solutions for the non-profit sector.

Its first initiatives will be a writing competition for undergraduate and graduate students and a one-day conference for not-for-profits in the spring.