Building Bridges
By Chris O'Connell
This summer three students will venture to South America attempting to rebuild relations between Colombia and Santa Clara.
Seniors Evan Hughes and Casey O'Connor, along with junior David Zwaska will spend two months in the Republic of Colombia in hopes of establishing a foundational relationship between the university and the wartorn country.
Although faculty delegation visited Colombia last summer and established connections with the Colombian Jesuit Community, this is the first student delegation to visit the country.
For the past 40 years, civil war has riddled Colombia. In February 2002 the Colombian government cut off peace negotiations with the Marxist rebel organization the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Since then, insurgent campaigns to overthrow the government have escalated, sponsored in part by funds from the drug trade.
The students hope to learn about the nature of Colombia's civil war conflict by actively participating in the various ministries of both Jesuits and non-Jesuits. Their research will focus on two cities: Buga, in the southwest region of Colombia and Barrancabermeja, located in the central oil-producing Magdalena Medio region.
Both areas suffer from the crippling effects of civil war and provide insight into the violent decades that Colombia has faced.
Other paramilitary organizations, such as the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC), battle for territory and shares in drug trafficking. The strife has led to civilian casualties, as many parts of the countryside are under guerilla influence.
The U.S. State Department considers Colombia to be one of the most dangerous countries in the world and has issued a travel advisory for U.S. citizens traveling to Colombia.
"There are concerns," said Luis Calero S.J., "but no more concerns than there would be if they were visiting Africa, Asia or any other third world region." Calero works as the students' advisor and mentor. He is a native Colombian and assures that the Colombian Jesuits have invited the student delegation to stay for the duration of their immersion, which they would not have done if the situation was not safe. Calero affirmed that the threesome promised to be respectful and obedient companions to the Jesuits, which will keep them out of any trouble.
"I'm a little scared," said "O'Connor, "but I feel safe to know that we're staying with the Jesuits."
"I'm excited," Hughes added. "We will be living and working with the Jesuits."
Hughes, O'Connor and Zwaska will work with several organizations, including but not limited to Jesuit Refugee Services and the Colombian Jesuit Community. Both of these organizations work with refugees, who are displaced by the war, offering services such as food and shelter to aid their re-adjustment.
The three will also meet and work with the Instituto Mayor Campesino (IMCA), an organization supporting the farmers of Colombia. The students hope to help on an organic farm this summer, experiencing agricultural life firsthand. Working with these institutions they will foster an important relationship between Santa Clara and Colombia.
"After studying abroad in El Salvador," Hughes said "and learning that the American Jesuit community supported the Jesuits in El Salvador during their civil war, I'd like to help extend that solidarity to Colombia.
"American policy affects the war so strongly," O'Connor said, stressing the importance of Santa Clara students' and American citizen's knowledge of the issues pertaining to Colombia.
Since the Sept/ 11 terrorist attacks, the United States has put pressure on the Colombian government to bear down on drug smuggling and terrorist activity, which some believe may lead to more civilian casualties and the targeting of Americans abroad.
Calero also emphasized the importance of visiting Colombia. The South American country is the third largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid. He said that Colombia has the most serious political problems in the Western Hemisphere.
"You have to see it first hand," continued Calero, "it is the best way to educate the faculty, students, and staff about Colombia."
Currently the threesome studies the political, social and economic situations in Colombia under the guidance of Calero. They also meet with other faculty and staff who have experience developing university programs in Latin America, including Michael Colyer, the current coordinator of Santa Clara immersion programs, and Geredenio Manuel S.J., Vice Provost for University Programs and Multi-Cultural Education and a leading developer of the "Casa de la Solidaridad" study abroad program in El Salvador. These conferences aim to provide the students with an understanding and proper assessment of Colombia and the organizations they will work with.
Funding for the trip has been difficult in light of Colombia's status as "unsafe" by the State Department. The Bannan Center denied the student's grant proposal, finding that the risk to the university of sending students to countries with U.S. travel advisories was too great. However, Hughes, O'Connor and Zwaska recently received an anonymous donation of $3,000 as well as financial support from campus ministry, and a Donovan Grant. With orientation and funding seemingly in check, Hughes, O'Connor and Zwaska are prepared to leave July 3. They will be the first student delegation to Colombia, living and working with the people of Colombia. They hope to act as ambassadors for Santa Clara, creating possibilities for future immersion and research experiences.
Zwaska summed up his impressions of the upcoming journey. "[We want] to create solidarity and learn about their history and live with them in that history."