Feb 18, 2011

Erin Flynn, a junior from Long Island, N.Y., majoring in theology and religious studies, holds up an iPromise placard.

A key tenet of the Catholic tradition is to be a keeper for a brother or sister, to look out for and care for others, especially friends. This principle is also at the heart of a campaign among Catholic University students to be safe over Spring Break.

As CUA students prepare to be away from campus from March 7 through March 13, they are reminding themselves about the value of their friends and pledging to keep watch over them.
Since Feb. 14, students have been registering at http://ipromise.cua.edu and "signing" the pledge. Beginning Monday, Feb. 21, student leaders from campus ministry and residence life will pass out wallet-sized pledge cards in student residence halls and dining facilities. On Feb. 28, students will begin signing the pledge at a table set up in the lobby of the Edward J. Pryzbyla University Center.
Rev. Jude DeAngelo O.F.M. Conv., university chaplain and director of campus ministry, said, "You have to reinforce good moral behavior when students are on Spring Break and away from campus. This campaign calls people to Christian responsibility."
The iPromise Pledge Campaign began at CUA in 2007. The promise reads: "I understand that my friends are some of the most important people in my life. That is why, this Spring Break, I promise to keep them safe as much as I possibly can, physically, emotionally, and spiritually."
Last year, more than 1,000 students signed the pledge. Rachel Wainer, program coordinator in the Office of the Dean of Students, said she hopes to get 1,200 signatures this year. "It's clear that when people make a pledge, they're more likely to keep the promise," she said.
The iPromise campaign is student run and coordinated by the offices of the dean of students and campus ministry. This year the theme was designed by the dean of students office and CUAlternative, a peer education group that presents topics such as alcohol and other drug use and sexual violence.
This year the iPromise campaign is part of an effort on campus to accentuate the four cardinal virtues. The month of February is dedicated to prudence, and the month of March to temperance. The virtues campaign is related to President John Garvey's inaugural theme of "Intellect and Virtue: The Idea of a Catholic University."

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