Prior to the 2013 fall semester, the dramatic decision to dismantle Loyola's MA in Social Justice and Community Development was made unilaterally by the university Provost, John Pelissero, and Director of the Institute of Pastoral Studies (IPS), Brian Schmisek, without any consideration of faculty or student input.

Students were allowed to enroll in the program advertised as the MASJCD, and were not informed of this decision to dismantle the program until December 2013. Multiple faculty members have had their positions eliminated, including the Graduate Program Director (and only full-time faculty member for the program) and the Coordinator for Community Development. We will soon be a program without any full-time faculty, which we see as unacceptable for a graduate-level degree. Now the university is continuing to allow prospective students to apply and enroll in the MASJCD degree without disclosing the true state or structure of the degree program.

Despite students, alumni, faculty, and staff respectfully requesting clear and thorough information regarding these decisions, the current remains of the program, and its future, our voices have been repeatedly shut down. It is an injustice that has us asking:

Who is Loyola loyal to?

Please stand in support with the dedicated members of the Loyola community as we demand the reinstatement of the MASJCD and the justice and respect we deserve.

*When adding your name to the petition, please consider expressing your relationship to this cause, your title, and a statement describing your reasons for involvement in the Comments section.

Follow us at LoyaltoJustice.wordpress.com for further details

and contact us at LoyaltoJustice@gmail.com