Dear Students: here is your fifth blog topic. This one should be posted by the end of Week Seven (Oct. 6-10). You might want to wait until after we talk about Katherine Drexel in our Week Seven class to compose your thoughts. Respond by hitting the RESPONSES button underneath this entry, and make sure your post is at least 250 words.
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I believe that St. Katherine would feel accomplished with all of the Xavier schools and just the over all product which are the students and productive citizens which come from it. I know that naturally she would have some changes as anyone observing from the outside in would, but the spirit and direction in which Xavier University of New Orleans is headed is unparalled. Where else can you find more focused and dedicated students after several natural disasters and just dealing with everyday life in a tough city to live in? Everyone is so focused (probably because of tuition costs), on their studies and the beterment of their communities that no one can stop them, nor St. Katherine Drexel’s dream because it has been instiled in us since the moment we steped foot on campus.
I think that if St. Katherine Drexel were here today she would be very proud of what Xavier has grown into. It is a successful higher learning institution. I also think that if St. Katherine Drexel were here today she would think that her mission was accomplished. Xavier’s mission is to promote a more just and humane society and I feel as though the school is certainly doing so. Xavier ranks number one for placing the most African-Americans into medical school. Since I have been at Xavier, I can now understand why they have this ranking. Xavier prepares their students for any obstacles that they may come across in the future. A few of the classes are intense, but there are numerous facilities that can help a student to prepare for those classes. I feel that Xavier truly cares about their students in a way that St. Katherine Drexel would want them to. Xavier is also a very diverse place. Most universities with high academic standings have majority white students. Xavier has majority African-American and Asian students. I do think that there are a few things that St. Katherine Drexel would change if she were around today. Many of the females on campus act as if they have no respect for themselves. St. Katherine Drexel would not approve of this. She would also disapprove of the way that some of the males behave. Many of the males act as though they are “thugs” when they really are not. Even with very few downfalls, I think that St. Katherine Drexel would mostly be proud of Xavier University if she were around today.
I believe Katherine Drexel would be astounded at the progress that Xavier has made. It is ranked as number one in the nation when it comes to placing minorities into medical school. Students participate in many community service programs such as Adopt-A-Grandparent, which shows Xavier’s sense of community. Xavier University is a great representative not of just New Orleans, but of all of Louisiana. Students work hard to stay and thrive here and thiose who do not simply won’t make it. Even though Xavier has come so far there are still issues it has to deal with. These issues include disrespect towards one another and one’s self. Also the lack of professionalism some students have is scary,for instance young ladies wearing mini skirts to class and young men with their bottoms out due to sagging jeans. However these problems are miniscule compared to the greatness Xavier exerts and continues to share with its students and community. Katherine Drexel should be extremely proud of Xavier and its accomplishments.
Thanks to St. Catherine Drexel’s funding, not only is Xavier University of Louisiana but other Xavier colleges in the nation has achieve many remarkable things. Xavier ranks first in the nation in placing African African American students into medical school as well as first in awarding African Americans baccalaureate degrees in the physical sciences. Although it is a Catholic-associated school mainly made up of African Americans, there are also many other races and religions affiliates that can be found. St. Catherine Drexel has helped putting many scholars into Medical schools and given them an opportunity for better and brighter future. Even if the successes and accomplishments that has been made with Xavier, if St. Catherine Drexel were around, I’m quite sure there are other things she would have done for improvements, for instance, classes expansion, students overall behavior or misconducts, etc. But of course every thing has its good and bad quality, and sometimes, the good outweighs the bad. All in all, if St. Katherine Drexel were to be around today, she would be in awe at the progress and success that has been made today, and would be very please with the school’s outcome.
If Saint Katherine Drexel were around today I belive that she would be very proud of what Xavier has become. Xavier is the nation’s #1 school at placing America’s minorities into medical school. It is also a ethnical school.Even though it is a HBCU there are many other races in attendance today such as Caucasians,Phillipeans, Asians, and Chinese. Which are all minorities in the american soceity.St.KD would probably be very happy about the progress that the school has made. I am very appreciative of this hardworking,God fearind woman. Because of her I am able to get a better eduaction attenddig the school of my choice.
If Saint Katherine Drexel were around today I believe that she would be very satisfied and proud of what Xavier has become. She established a good school then and it has become a very successful university. I think that she will feel that she has accomplished a goal for having Xavier University of New Orleans to be the number one school in the nation for palcing African Americanas into medical school. Xavier has a reputation for their academics and I know that she would proud of that. I think that if St. Katherine Drexel were still alive she would be proud of the fact that xavier as grown to one of the top schools in the nation. Xavier prepares students for the their future and it gives you asistance along the way.
Katherine Mary Drexel was a Saint who belonged to the Roman Catholic Church during the early 1900’s. As the saint that she was referred to, she used all her inheritance to educate Native Americans and African Americans students located in the West and Southeast regions of America. To establish religious freedom, she opened Catholic schools to help enhance education in the minority community. With her drive to help others and to broaden education, she opened 60 schools throughout the United States to educate students.
I believe throughout this short period that I’ve been attending Xavier University of Louisiana; I strongly believe that Katherine Drexel would be disappointed in her accomplishments and hard work. It’s a privilege and honor to attend Xavier University and it’s frustrating when I see other students throw away their education. Many people lounge around campus without studying, when people have fought to have the education which we are receiving. It’s hard to believe that students don’t care about their education, and would rather do nothing to achieve their dreams. I’ve worked extremely hard to where I am today and am proud to be a Xavierite. Katherine Mary Drexel fought for racial justice, and stood so that everyone could receive an education. The education is right in front of us, was given to us as a privilege to have, when it seems like people could care less about achieving their dreams. I enjoy going to Xavier University, and would love to be one step closer to my accomplishments in life. I hope that students here at Xavier University, understand that receiving an education is important, and to not take everything so unconscientiously.
As we all have been informed Katherine Mary Drexel was the heiress to a massive family fortune. Upon receiving this inheritance she used all of her monetary resources (the sum of $20million) to aid in the advancement of Native Americans and African Americans. Two of major accomplishments were the order of nuns known as the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and our own Xavier University. After her death, Katherine Drexel would be canonized and recognized by the Catholic Church as Saint Katherine Drexel. What would she think present day Xavier? I believe her emotions would be bittersweet. She would probably be ecstatic to see that Xavier is still prominent and thriving but she may also be slightly disappointed. First, there aren’t many Native Americans enrolled at Xavier nor are there many (if any) outreach programs established through Xavier for Native Americans. Second, she wouldn’t be thrilled to see the dropout rate among first year Xavier students as well as the mass disparity between African American women and men ( the women at Xavier nearly triple the amount of men, while less African American men are going to college they are dying at a faster pace and at a younger age). As an African American male I feel that it is essential that I as well as my fellow African American males take advantage of institutions such as Xavier or any chance to obtain higher learning seeing that the odds are seemingly against us to succeed as individuals and as a people. And as men we should be leading the way. But all I can do is my part, and I plan on making Saint Katherine Drexel proud.
- Adonis David Howard
In class on monday we were told that Kathrine Drexel was a apart of a very rich family. When Kathrine Drexel recieved her inheritance she used it to start a school for people who she felt were not given enough opportunities.To me this shows what kind of person Kathrine Drexel was.To live your life not having to want for anything and then when given her share of the fortune spent and invested it for other people she did not know. If Kathrine Drexel were here today i think she would be proud of how far this establishment has come. It is the #1 school for putting african-american in medical school. This school has given young men and women oppurtunities that they did not have before. She would be happy that this school is still thriving. But also Kathrine Drexel would be alttle disappointed. She would be disappoointed to see the percentage of students who drop out the first semester and who start out the strong but don’t end up graduating. Also she would be disappointed with the percentage of males that are attending her school. I don’t think she would like the fact that this campus is run by females and out number males 17 to 1.But all in all i think St Kathrine would be happy that her school was able to give different minority students a chance to excel at a high level.
After discussing a little more about St. Katherine Drexel in class it helped me look at the situation in a different light. By saying this I honestly believe that she would be proud of what her money has done for the black community over the years. Xavier is one of the best HBCU’s in the country and I know she would be proud of that, because that in itself is a big thing. Not only would she be proud of what this school has maintained as a whole but she would also be proud of what this school offers; after recieveing a degree. Xavier gives students a lot of opportunities, that will help us prepare for the corporate world. I also know that she would be extremely proud of the pharmacy program that Xavier has developed over the years and how it will remain. I mean anyone would be proud to know that their money did not go to waste, and that they will help people for a very long time. When I say help in her case I mean her helping us miniorites excel at a high level, giving us an opportunity that many didnt back in those days. One thing that she may be disappointed about would be the fact that there are very few black men who attend. All in all St. Katherine Drexel would be proud of what her university has become over the years.
What would Katherine Drexel think about Xavier if she were around today? I think Katherine Drexel would be proud to be able to say that an establishment founded by her own doing has grown to reach the level of success that it has, and the level of recognition and integrity that it upholds. Katherine Drexel had a vision, and that vision is being fulfilled daily at Xavier University. To know that you are helping a countless number of individuals, and by your hands alone, long with the help of God, you are changed the lives of people everywhere, and giving people and fighting chance along with a better future is an amazing achievement. Katherine Drexel made a tremendous sacrifice by deciding to render her inheritance of $20 million dollars to the development and the advancement of African-American and Native-American education. Many people pose themselves with the question of would they have done the same if they were in possession of the same amount of money, and 9 out of 10 people would not. A lot of people would give only some of the money to a charity or something similar, but Katherine Drexel devoted her life to this, and if she we’re around today I feel as though Xavier would have exceeded her expectations being how well it has blossomed over the years. Katherine Drexel would be astonished at Xavier’s success and also over-whelmed with joy. Katherine Drexel has truely been a blessing to the lives of many even after death, and will continue to help and improve the lives of many all because of her dream.
I am honor to attend Xavier University of Louisiana where the ultimate purpose of the University is the promotion of a more just and human society. Thanks to St Katherine Drexel I am not only able to gain a proper education surrounded by staff that care but also the teaching for leadership and to service the society. The mission and development of the university is being fulfilled each day, student strive for betterment each day student appear to put his or her cap and gone on to receive the degree in which they work so hard to acquire. If St Katherine Drexel was still alive today she would be very proud of the accomplishment of the University, for being number one for severally years in placing African American in medical school. She would be happy to know that her heritance was not put to waste but to expand in educating Native Americans and African Americans students located in the West and Southeast regions of America. She would be happy to know that people all over the world known about her life and her dreams for the University. I believe that every student attending Xavier should be proud scholars and to embrace this opportunity to make a different not only in their life but life around them. They should take each day at Xavier as a stepping stone to an amazing future where they would know the important of education and the important of helping other. Thank you ST Katherine Drexel for the opportunity to be a Xavierite.
The first thing that popped in my mind when I heard of Katherine Drexel was a name of a street. never thinking that it was was a name of a wealthy rich woman with a such a amazing life. I think if katherine Drexel were still alive today. She would be very proud, xavier university is the number one medicine school. Xavier university consist of mostly females from freshmen to seniors. There are many young males that attend Xavier university but they dont top the females that attend. After giving so much money towards the African and Native Americans race for college. She would be extremely proud about how many seniors are graduating next year. Also the amount of in coming freshmen that make it to their second year in college. The money that katherine donated has not and will not ever go to waste its all for a good cost. I would have to honestly say that she would be proud and pleased with Xavier University as it stands today.
First and foremost I would just like to say that St. Katherine Drexel deserves all of the praise that she gets for being such a courageous person. It would have taken me a while to come up with the decision to just take 20 million dollars to build schools for people. That decision just shows you what type of person she was. Okay, so now to the point of this whole blog assignment! Honestly, I think that St. Katherine Drexel would be very grateful to know that that the dream she envisioned over 50 years ago, if not longer, is being successfully carried out by the president, faculty, staff, and alumni of Xavier University. The name in itself says it all, and if that isn’t enough, Google it and read the statistics. The rate of pharmacy students that they graduate every year is outstanding, the number of students that actually graduate and go to medical school are high. The pope came for a visit. What more could you ask for? The president is well known by many. I mean it is just an overall prestigious school that is well recognized for its greatness. If St. Katherine Drexel were here, she would probably sit back and smile and think to herself, wow, I did this! All I can say is that I’m glad that I could be apart of her dream and I hope that her vision is carried out for years and years to come!
~Sorry for the late post Dr. Schaefer~
St. Katherine Drexel would be extremely proud of Xavier if she was still alive today. It would make her realize that the decision she made to take her inheritance and build Xavier was really for soemthing wonderful. To be alive and see the impact Xavier has had and is still having in its students lives, would make her very proud. To be able to be apart of this great legacy, is like a dream come true for me. If it wasn’t for St. Katherine’s sacrife, there wouldn’t be a Xavier to call MY school. I take pride in my school because of its rich and unique history. It is because of St. Katherine that I have a school that is historical in its own right. How many people can say they attend not only a historically black college but one created by a Saint? I can and so can the other students of Xavier University. Katherine Drexel has left behind a grand legacy that will forever continue to thrive and grow. I know that she wuld be beyond proud of the educational and professional standards that Xavier University has achieved and still continues to achieve. I love this school and I want to thank St. Katherine for even having the dream to build this school and the determination for actually making tht dream into a reality. I am proud to be a Xavierite!!!
I never realized what a huge sacrifice some people made back in the older days. I understood that a lot of people fought for freedom and equality, but never noticed that lack of education would match up to African American cruelty. St. Katherine Drexel sacrificed a huge deal so that any person no matter white black or Native American could get an equal opportunity to learn. Though she was born into a family, which was rich, she gave up her reputation to provide for the less fortunate. I believed that some people may have looked down at her because she was defying what they believed in. She could have been scrutinized by people around her or under looked. I feel that if she was alive today she would be very proud of the progress that Xavier University had made. It’s gone from a minority high school to one of the top Historically Black Colleges and Universities in America best known for its medical students and academics. She gave us the ladder to begin climbing and we exceeded her limits in the highest way. It amazes be to see how much Xavier university has grown also. If I were alive in that time I would have never imagined that African Americans would be so great and thought so highly of today, especially because we were looked down at for the longest time. St. Katherine Drexel encouraged Xavier to strive for the best and nothing less. She helped Xavier come up with one main goal, and that is to “promote a more just and humane society for the people so that we could be taught leadership and provide service to the society.” (http://www.xula.edu/mission/index.php)
If St. Katherine Drexel was here today looking back at what she invested in over the years, she may feel a warm feeling of completeness, honor, and happiness. The thought that having a substantial amount of money inherited to her and transforming it into a great success would give her the feeling of happiness. Just walking on campus and looking at the yearbooks and seeing over the years how many African American and Native Americans who which were allowed to be educated graduate and have the knowledge for there future dream and goals would also bring her happiness. For her to feel completeness Katherine can also see that her investment has worked out the way she wanted it to. After her drive and seeing her vision she has completed a lifetime and then some. She has not only completed her vision but has completed and given the African Americans and Native Americans a chance to be educated and has a school for them. However for the sisters as well. That project still exists here today an sisters still remain here today. As for her feeling happiness it comes from the happiness of the ones that succeeded and the ones that are here. Just imaging all that you can do with that amount of money someone one who is warm hearted and cares gives it up to form something that money cant buy. St Katherine would not turn back once she has seen what her riches and wealth turned out to be. On a personal level i am more then fortunate to be at Xavier University of Louisiana today and i deeply that St Katherine Drexel.
In order to answer that question we must first ask ourselves what was Katherine Drexel’s purpose for establishing Xavier and does Xavier follow that purpose? Well, the Xavier mission states, “The ultimate purpose of the university is the promotion of a just and humane society. To this end, Xavier prepares students to assume roles of leadership and service in society. This preparation takes place in a pluralistic teaching and learning environment that incorporates all relevant educational means, including research and community service.” With that being said I believe Xavier follows Katherine Drexel’s mission. I believe she would acknowledge Xavier for giving students of all race equal opportunities, for its physical appearance, and also for its success in helping students establish leadership roles throughout the world.
When it comes to equal opportunity Xavier demonstrates just that. Though it is a historically black college, Xavier accommodates all races. There isn’t any special treatment given out because you are black. A historically black college means that the majority of the population of the college has always been black. If in fact the college allowed only black students to attend than we would be disobeying a constitutional law. I believe Katherine Drexel would be very over-whelmed because she established the college to create equal opportunities.
Xavier has come a long way do to technology. There aren’t many pictures that show how Xavier looked years ago, but I’m sure it didn’t look as good as it does now. Living on Xavier’s campus I have had time to notice a lot of thing about it. Like how the area around Xavier is always clean, how the grass is always trimmed, how the buildings have no broken glass or bricks out of place and how many students it can accommodate. Now, when you think back approximately 96 years ago do think Xavier looked as it does now. When I think about what she would say about Xavier the only thing that comes to mind is, “we have come a long way.”
As stated before in the mission one of the purposes of Xavier was to prepare students to assume leadership roles in society. Being number one in the country and graduating the majority of it alumni Xavier is none for producing leaders. If Katherine Drexel was here to see it she would feel just like a mother who has watched her son/daughter reach adulthood.
Most of the time when big organizations are established the foundation is still there, but the purpose and meaning of its establishment is often times lost over a certain period of time. Xavier beat all odds because it kept and followed the mission of Katherine Drexel. It gave students of all race equal opportunity, it has an outstanding appearance, and it is very successful in helping students establish leadership roles throughout the world, and for that Katherine would be so proud.
It is said that Katherine Drexel intended Xavier for the educational advancement of Blacks and Native Americans. If this is true, then I think she would be proud. People from other states might think little of New Orleans because of what media shows them, but when some one says “I attend Xavier of New Orleans” their whole demeanor changes. Xavier is one of the top colleges in the USA, and to see that it is intended for middle class people who maybe can’t afford the higher schools thats great. I think it would be everything she wanted and more. Then Xavier is in the 3rd ward, that really what she wanted. For blacks to see a college down the street from their homes. I don’t think she agrees with making us pay to park though!
What would Katherine Drexel think about Xavier if she were around today? I think that St. Drexel would be proud about how the university has grown; also I think that she would feel that her mission has been accomplished. Her mission was to address racial injustice and destitution and spread the Gospel to these groups; Katharine established a religious order, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People. Because Katharine felt a universal need for education, especially among Blacks and Native Americans, she financed more than 60 missions and schools around the United States, St. Drexel did so by dedicating her life and inheritance to the needs of oppressed Native Americans and Blacks in the West and Southwest US. Because of her lifelong dedication to her faith and her selfless service to the oppressed, she was canonized and recognized as the second born American saint.
Katherine Drexel was a woman of unspoken admiration and inspiration. She wanted more for her fellow man and saw an opportunity to do so. What she did as young woman was something many youthful Americans nowadays would never think of. Xavier University of New Orleans is a remarkable landmark, starting at the soil on the ground to the very tips of the architectural landscape. This school and its campus, in a way, reflects Katherine Drexel and her unwavering determination to achieve greatness. This school stands today because of the wonderful staff and they willing student body. Katherine Drexel would see herself in this school if she were still living. There is a piece of Katherine Drexel in every aspect of the school. Her hands and eyes are engraved in the walls on campus. Her spirit is etched in the souls of the Xavierite population. She would be greatly proud to know that the institution she founded has helped not only African Americans, but other Americans all over the country. To know that her idea has been expanded to its full capacity and is, to this day, operating a full longevity. I think it would bring tears to her eyes to know that her dream has finally become a reality. Xavier has done a wonderful job in educating the students body, and preparing them for a successful and productive career. It’s a great foundation for furthering ones knowledge. The word proud would not justify the sense of accomplishment Katherine Drexel would feel if she saw Xavier University today.
I believe that St. Katherine Drexel would be proud of what Xavier has accomplished. She dedicated her life to the education of African Americans and Native Americans. While traveling, Katherine Drexel discovered how the Native Americans were being treated. It also came to her attention that slaves were being treated the same way. She then decided that these two races would benefit to have an education. She made this her purpose in life. She spent her inheritence to better the education of African Americans and Native Americans. She believed so heavily in this that she gave up the life she was living to become a nun. She spent millions of dollars to build Xavier University. Back then, it didn’t what it has now. When she built Xavier, I don’t think she thought about it would affect the lives’ of the students who graduated from it. I also don’t think she would think about how accomplished Xavier is now. During her time, there were probably only a handful that attended the university. Now, thousands of students attend Xavier and fill her halls with life. Xavier is now more accomplished now than it was back then. Not only did it come back after Katrina, but it came back stronger than before. It is now one of the top universities that places minorities in the top healthcare profession after graduation. It also has a high graduation rate for African Americans. All-in-all, I believe that Xavier’s accomplishments and that of its students would bring overwhelming joy to St. Katherine Drexel.
Hearing about the famous Kathering Drexel I would think that she would be elated to see what her hard work turned into. She would smile to see that she did not waste her money in this university. Being a Black/ Catholic univeristy she would be proud to see that her hard work paid off. Seeing that Xavier University of Louisiana is known world-wide for pharamarcy, then she would be happy to see that her money that she recieved from her parents did not waste and her legacy was kept. Although I am sure there would be certain things she would disapprove of, but over all she would be happy to say she was apart of this establishment. As a young child she was spoiled with the wealth of her family’s riches. Growing older, Katherine Drexel and her other siblings recieved reaped the wealth of their parents wealth. Being the wonderful person he is she decided to put her monet towards something great. Which was this wonder university called Xavier University of Louisiana.
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If Katherine Drexel were alive today i would want the oppurtunity to thank her for having the courage and willingness to open up a school for African-American and other minorities. She has really provided oppurtunities for the minorities. I think she would be proud of every Xavierite.-JC
First, I would like to say that if Saint Katharine Drexel were alive today then I would like to thank her for being kind, generous, and selfless enough that she would dedicate her money, time, and life so that I might have the opportunity to better myself by furthering my education. Her dream was presenting the resources and opportunities that would enable me to pursue my dream and for that she deserves to be applauded and commended. If she were alive today she would be quite proud of the progress and advancements Xavier has made since its establishment over eighty years ago. Not only would she be impressed by the expansion and future plans that Xavier has made but she would also be happy to see the accomplishments and accolades the university has already made. One accomplishment that would make her proud is Xavier’s national rank as the number one university for placing African American students in medical schools, which has been standing for the past fourteen years. Saint Drexel would also be glad to know that the reigns of the university are still in the safe, wise hands of Dr. Norman Christopher Francis, the President of Xavier University, whom has done a marvelous job in steering the university and looking out for its best interest as well as that of the students. Although she would be impressed with all the development and advancement, it is only fair to say that Saint Katharine Drexel would disapprove of some things that she would see on the campus, such as the public displays of affection or the loud car stereos being blasted as cars roll down the street.