Distinguished Service Medallion 1997
JOSEPH CARDINAL BERNARDIN (In Memoriam)
Archbishop of Chicago, renowned advocate for change in the church to
respond to the needs of many constituencies, spokesperson for those with
a concern for ethics in health care, and one who took an interest in
the role of the Chicago campus. The Medallion was accepted by his
colleague and aide, Monsignor Kenneth Velo.
SENATOR STANLEY B. WEAVER
As a State Senator from Illinois 52nd District, Senator Weaver has
assisted the University of Illinois in many ways for 28 years in the
Illinois General Assembly. He was Senate Majority leader and a very
effective leader in his party. He assisted the University in every major
accomplishment through the tenures of four presidents. Senator Weaver
was awarded the Medallion at the October 9, 1997, meeting of the Board
of Trustees.
Board of Trustees Minutes
April 10, 1997
AWARD OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES' DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDALLION, 1997
The Trustees’ Distinguished Service Medallion Committee recommends
Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, late archbishop of Chicago for the Trustees
Distinguished Service Medallion for 1997.
Cardinal Bernardin was most interested in a partnership between the
Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago and the University of Illinois at
Chicago. This relationship began in February 1992 with a meeting between
the cardinal and James J. Stukel, then chancellor of the Chicago
campus. They met on a regular basis after that. The number of
initiatives that have been a result of this partnership is impressive.
The Great Cities Program, in its early states, was linked to the
Catholic Charities organization to benefit residents in both Pilsen and
on the near west side. Catholic churches were used as sites for
convening parties who were interested in the Great Cities Program.
Catholic parishes have been of great assistance to the program since its
earliest stages. Consequently, a number of important projects have
developed for the University and the archdiocese as well as the city of
Chicago.
Out of this relations, some other linkages also developed between the
Chicago campus and the Catholic schools. One pilot project carried out
in some schools was the UIC fingerprinting initiative. Through this
project fingerprints of incoming kindergartners are taken and maintained
until the children reach age 18. The faculty of the Chicago campus and
the Chicago Catholic Schools have worked together in teacher training
programs. As a result, more student teachers at UIC have found training
opportunities in the Catholic schools of Chicago. Also, UIC faculty have
offered consultative services to the Catholic schools.
Health care was another are Cardinal Bernardin focused on in his
meetings with Dr. Stukel. The cardinal and Dr. Stukel both agreed on the
importance of health care reform and the need to keep in perspective
the ethical issues that accompany it. The cardinal gave an address at
UIC in February 1993 entitled The Consistent Ethic of Life that expressed his view on health care issues and related subjects.
Cardinal Bernanrdin and Chancellor Stukel often spoke of the
recruitment of students from the Catholic schools to UIC. As a result of
these talks, an annual reception for Catholic school principals and
counselors was initiated in September 1993. This event continues. Today,
50 percent of the approximately 25,000 students at UIC are Roman
Catholics.
David C. Broski, chancellor at the Chicago campus, has said that he
views the partnership between UIC and the Chicago Archdiocese as
invaluable. He said that he intends to continue the partnership of these
“two great institutions serving the same population.”
On motion of Mrs. Gravenhorst, this recommendation was approved by
the following vote: Aye, Mrs. Calder, Mr. Engelbrecht, Dr. Gindorf,
Mrs. Gravenhorst, Ms. Lopez, Mrs. O’Malley, Mr. Plummer; no, none;
absent, Governor Edgar, Mr. Lamont. (Ms. Reese asked to be recorded as
not voting on this item.)
(The student advisory vote was: Aye, Ms. Vais, Mr. Wallace; absent, Mr. Malone.)