A new Creighton Students Union position is reaching out to students and making the Jesuit mission more of a reality for the student body.
The new role of mission coordinator builds upon an older position, said Arts & Sciences junior Rajeev Anchan, CSU vice president of Student Affairs.
CSU wanted a position that would undertake more responsibilities of the Jesuit mission and extend into the areas of faith, sustainability and social justice.
Arts & Sciences freshman Ken Homan was chosen from six applicants to fill the position.
“I really wanted the position because I felt like God was calling me to it,” Homan said. “I saw the position and description in the student news listserv and basically thought to myself, ‘Awesome. This position is amazing.'”
The selection panel felt that Homan had suitable experience and had the drive and vision a new position needs, Anchan said. As a freshman, Homan was involved in starting a non-profit organization that collected and resold old textbooks. He has also attended a National Jesuit Teach-In, led various trips to clean local rivers in the St. Louis area and participated in a 2009 Spring Break Service Trip.
“His focus on sustainability and social justice stood out to each of us,” Anchan said.
Though the specific jobs and goals of the mission coordinator are still in the works, some of Homan’s responsibilities will include meeting with members of the Jesuit community, CCSJ and Campus Ministry, and maintaining active communication with the CSU student representative body. Homan will also work with CSU representatives to help tutor at the Jesuit Middle School and updating representatives on important facets of the Jesuit Tradition.
He said he already has several projects in mind. Among these is a plan to create a carpool or alternative transportation Web site for students and faculty to cut down emissions.
Homan also would like to introduce a program based on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s bi-yearly local food day, where the two main dining halls on campus feature locally grown and organic foods. This would provide a break from normal dining hall food and a chance for cooks to show off their talent.
Finally, Homan would like to decrease the appearance of sweatshop clothing on the Creighton campus.
“I would like to see Creighton become a leader in sweat-free athletic clothing and encourage our sibling Jesuit schools to get on board and lobby Nike and other sweatshop companies to change their ways,” Homan said.