UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES PHOTO
VOICES OF CHANGE
Like generations before them, today’s Loyola students continue a tradition of student activism • BY ANNA GAYNOR
For Kelsey Cheng, her passion for activism wasn’t sparked by just one event. As a fresh- man, her biology major increasingly seemed like a poor fit. But fortunately, her decision to get involved in student government was paying off. She sought out and received some helpful advice from a Loyola senior while on a retreat, then learned more from her advisor. But what really crystallized her change in direction was a trip to Washington, DC, for the Ignatian Solidarity Network’s social justice conference. “I was very thrown off,” says Cheng. “The
weekend I went was the 25th anniversary of the (murder of the) Jesuit martyrs in El Salvador, and that kind of served as a big inspiration for me wanting to work for justice in my life. I had the
realization that if I wanted to keep doing these things like lobbying and having an active role in my government, I needed an experience outside of my own life and background.” All of these experiences sent Cheng down
a different path. She switched her major from biology to advertising and public relations. Now a junior, Cheng remains involved with student government and has broadened her interests by helping out with campus ministry, the Green Ini- tiative Fund, and the student-led Magis Scholar- ship Initiative, which will provide financial support to undocumented students. As she looks toward graduation and beyond, Cheng says she would eventually like to put her skills and passion to work as a lobbyist.
“I don’t think I would’ve discovered my passion
for activism and advocacy had I not come to Loyola,” Cheng says. “This is completely different than all other colleges I applied to, and I think Loyola gives you the tools you need to learn how to become an advocate.” Many advocacy minded students and alumni
have a story similar to Cheng’s. While some arrive on campus dedicated to making a difference, others, like Cheng, find their calling along the way. The motivation could be rooted in a per- sonal struggle against injustice, an experience of witnessing activism firsthand, or values grounded in a family’s ethos. For Cheng, it was an invitation to look at the world and better understand what’s happening and how she could affect change. Activism on college campuses has a long and
rich history. It has had its ebbs and flows through the years, with quiet periods offset by major pro- tests around issues of national concern. During
20 LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO
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