By Bill Hoppe
News Editor

The Immaculate Conception Province has granted the university's new Franciscan Center for Social Concern $250,000 to raise the awareness of prevalent social issues to students.

"We are especially pleased that Immaculate Conception Province will be a supporter of the our newly established Franciscan Center for Social Concern," said Robert J. Wickenheiser, university president.

The Very Rev. Robert Campagna, O.F.M., the minister provincial of Immaculate Conception Province and a Board of Trustee member, said Immaculate Conception awarded the money last month after Wickenheiser made a proposal to him over Family Weekend.

Father Robert said he hopes the grant raises "an awareness to the students on campus to the issues that are prevalent in our day and age."

Father Jud said Immaculate Conception plans to pay the grant over the next three or four years.

He said the Rev. John Felice, minister provincial of the of the Holy Name Province, granted St. Bonaventure University and Siena College $500,000 grants and matching $250,000 grants over the next three years to try to find Franciscan ways of helping solve social problems.

Father Jud said he hopes to send students to work with the needy full time in cities like Rochester and Buffalo for semester-long internships, possibly for course credit.

He said the center currently sends volunteers to on-campus programs like the Warming House and Bona Buddies.

Father Jud said there are 24 students involved with the center.

He hopes to increase the number of work-study students so the center can increase its hours to 40 a week. The center is currently open for 12 hours a week and has one work-study student.

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