[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 12, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S5369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO SISTER JEANNE O'LAUGHLIN

 Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I honor a wonderful 
leader and inspirational person, Sister Jeanne O'Laughlin. Sister 
Jeanne is retiring as President of Barry University in Miami Shores, 
FL, after more than 20 years as its president and more than 50 years as 
an educator. Under her tenure the student population at Barry more than 
quadrupled and became co-ed and diverse, the budget grew tenfold, the 
campus added 38 new buildings and Barry became the fourth largest 
private university in Florida.
  But, Sister Jeanne is more than just a president or professor, she is 
a fixture of the Miami community, a tireless advocate for the indigent 
and less fortunate and a prolific fundraiser. She has been honored by 
the Pope and selected for Presidential Commissions. She was the first 
female member of the Orange Bowl Committee and the Non-Group, chaired 
the Victory Foundation for the Homeless, the Miami Coalition for a Safe 
and Drug-Free Community, the Religious Task Force for We Will Rebuild 
and the Miami Blue-Ribbon Aviation Panel. And in the name of Barry 
University she would take on any challenge or bet even if it meant 
singing and dancing.
  When important decisions or events were happening in Miami she was 
there. Many will remember that she rescued three Chinese women from 
political prosecution and pushed for 14 months for their political 
asylum request to be accepted.
  Her tireless devotion to Barry, her infectious spirit and devotion to 
making the world a better place one good deed at a time, make Sister 
Jeanne a truly remarkable person. I am honored to know her.

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