Catholic Choice

THE NEW YORK TIMES, Aug. 5 – In the Times' Editorial Observer column, Brent Staples explained why Catholic schools were the choice of 96% of Cleveland school-voucher recipients even though the students could have used them in nonreligious private schools or in surrounding public school districts.

He argued that suburban schools were not interested in Cleveland's students because “vouchers would not nearly cover the expense” incurred, and nonreligious private schools were not interested in a stipend that failed to cover their tuition.

Staples, who is black, favors vouchers “in failing schools” as a lifeboat with limited seats that at least allows “some students to bail out of schools that are killing their futures.”

Editor Departs

COLLEGIATE NETWORK, Aug. 2 – Robert Swope, the controversial editor of Georgetown Academy, an alternative Georgetown University newspaper that championed the Jesuit school's Catholic identity, graduated this spring, according to a report on the Web site that monitors college journalism.

Swope and his newspaper led the movement to remove university funding from GU Choice, a campus pro-abortion club, and brought to a national spotlight the changes in the English curriculum after the department removed Shakespeare, Chaucer and Milton from being required reading for English majors.

In perhaps its most noteworthy effort, the newspaper initiated the successful effort to put crucifixes back in the university's classrooms.

Tightest Generation

CHRONICLE.COM, July 30 – Trustees of theological institutions tend to be older than most other college board members and they don't contribute large amounts of money to their institutions, according to a recent survey conducted by the Auburn Theological Seminary.

According to a story on the report on the Web site of The Chronicle of Higher Education, just 18% of theological trustees say their institution is their highest priority in giving. In the last five years, trustee donations never surpassed, on average, more than 10% of their institution's revenue.

Fifty-two percent of the trustees are over 60 and a plurality of theological trustees – 42% – are religious professionals. The report is available from Auburn by calling (212) 662-4315.

Abortion Survivor

HALES FRANCISCAN HIGH SCHOOL, Aug. 5 – The Web site of the Chicago inner-city school reprinted a Chicago Tribune feature story on the phenomenon of six black Hales students who are supporting Republican and pro-life candidates in this fall's gubernatorial election.

One of them, Haamid Johnson, 17, “who is adopted, said his biological mother considered aborting him until his ‘ultra-Catholic’ grandmother talked her out of it,” reported the Tribune. “He feels strongly about being a Catholic and against abortion.”

Johnson told the newspaper: “Being pro-life means more to me than party affiliation.”

Largest Gift

ST. BONAVENTURE UNIVERSITY, Aug. 5 – The Franciscans' upstate New York university plans to build a new, $5 million campus recreation center that is expected to open by autumn 2004. The center has been made possible by a $3 million gift specifically for this purpose from alumnus William Richter. It is the largest single gift in the university's history.