St. Davids, PA: The Campolo Institute for Applied Research in Social Justice of Eastern University celebrated Social Justice Day 2017 on the St. Davids campus on Friday, September 22, 2017. The day included a Windows on the World lecture, a social justice fair, a time of prayer with the Watchmen student prayer ministry in the Chapel, a discussion of the legacy of social justice at Eastern and concluded with a social justice focused Student Activities Board Coffeehouse in the evening.
Dr. Sharon Gramby-Sobukwe, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science and the Director of the Campolo Institute for Applied Research in Social Justice opened the day by saying, “This is not the first social justice day to be held at Eastern, but by launching this event today we hope to reignite our own passions and commitment to social justice.” She then introduced Emeritus Faculty member Reverend Dr. Tony Campolo ’56, BD ’60, ThM ‘61 who delivered lively remarks to a full auditorium of students, faculty, staff and visitors.
Dr. Campolo said “Christian colleges should send graduates into principalities and places of power and rescue them from evil forces and be God’s revolutionaries.”
On mission work Dr. Campolo urged those in attendance to spend time speaking with people in places of poverty and bring them together to ask tough questions and come up with answers to the issues.
Dr. Campolo challenged the undergraduates in attendance to enroll in Eastern’s MBA program so that they could work towards ending poverty, and that the only way to end poverty was through job creation.
He closed his remarks with this challenge to the audience “I challenge you to be God’s agents of change in this world!”
Following Windows on the Word a social justice fair was held outdoors with students and other community members manning displays and tables with information on social justice organizations. In the afternoon, Dr. Campolo joined other alumni, and students, faculty and staff in a roundtable-style discussion on the legacy of social justice at Eastern and the possibilities for the University’s continued leadership in this area for the future.
