[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 7028]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING DePAUL UNIVERSITY

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the memories of St. 
Vincent DePaul and St. Louise de Marillac and to note their legacy on 
DePaul University in Chicago. This year DePaul is marking the 350th 
anniversary of the deaths of St. Vincent and St. Louise.
  Providing access to social services such as health care and 
education, St. Vincent and St. Louise attended to the needs of those 
afflicted by poverty, illness, and injustice in the 17th century. St. 
Vincent DePaul and St. Louise de Marillac dedicated their lives to 
serving the underprivileged. It was by their example that the 
Vincentians founded DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois in 1898.
  DePaul University was established with a fundamental mission centered 
on service and civic engagement, ensuring academic excellence, 
providing access to affordable education, and promoting respect for the 
dignity of all persons. The spirit of St. Vincent and St. Louise lives 
admirably in the University's traditions. Since its founding, DePaul 
has been a home for students struggling to attain their dreams for 
higher education. Historically, DePaul has educated many students who 
would have otherwise seen the door to college closed for them. DePaul 
was one of the first universities to admit female students in a coed 
setting. The university also has a long and distinguished history of 
providing an education to first-generation college students and 
children of immigrants.
  Today, DePaul is one of the largest and most diverse private 
institutions in the Nation. The student body of over 25,000 represents 
a wide variety of religious, geographical, ethnic, and economic 
backgrounds that honor the memory of St. Vincent and St. Louise. And 
DePaul passes the noble tradition of serving others on to its students. 
Students at DePaul live the legacy of St. Vincent and St. Louise when 
they participate in community service through a variety of university-
wide programs, including the annual Vincentian Service Day.
  The year 2010 marks the 350th anniversary of the deaths of St. 
Vincent and St. Louise. Today, a commitment to service and a 
celebration of diversity is more important than ever before in our 
Nation. DePaul embodies these goals. The University continues to 
promote socially responsible leadership in its students and upholds its 
Vincentian mission to make education accessible for all students 
regardless of family background or financial means.
  Mr. President, I commend DePaul's celebration of the 350th 
anniversary of St. Vincent and St. Louise and praise their continuing 
pursuit of excellence in higher education.

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