Page 4 - Diamond News Spring 2016

Hernandez
(Continued from Page 1)
How did you stay focused
on your goal for the first two
years?
The whole process would take
me eleven years. The first two
years are called the novitiate and
it’s a sort of spiritual boot camp:
no TV, no internet, few outings,
no home visits, no cell phones,
long periods of silence. It was
actually a nice detox moment.
Instead, you spend time in
prayer, doing manual labor,
playing sports, going on hikes in the country. It
was a little difficult at first, but everything had
its purpose and that always makes it easier. I
spent this time in Connecticut and Ireland and
it was perhaps the most rewarding period of my
whole life. Life was simple again.
What was your transfer to Rome like?
As I pursued my studies, I would end up
spending four years in Rome (during two How do you stay in touch with your Delta
separate stints). What I learned in the classroom Upsilon brothers today?
was wonderful, but the lessons outside are what
made my stay memorable. I made it a point
to become Roman. I learned the language, the
culture, tasted the cuisine … I even got all the
hand gestures down.
I was fascinated by the ancient wonders that
are still standing in the Eternal City. I lost track Lastly, some of our alumni from Holy Spirit
of how many times I visited places like the
Colosseum, the Pantheon, St. Peter’s Basilica,
and the Vatican Museums. After some time, I
even started giving my own tours to visitors.
Once back in the United States, how did
you end up in Florida?
After two years of Philosophy, I was sent out
to do a three year pastoral internship. In practice, the lives of others?
this meant being in charge of weekend and
summer camps in Florida for Catholic middle
school students. I never imagined working with
kids... but this is part of the vow of obedience!
In just a few months I fell in love with this kind
of work. We had summer camps in the Florida
Keys, trips the New Hampshire Mountains, and
mission trips to Mexico among other adventures.
These years confirmed that I was on the
right track and ready to return to Rome and
finish my studies in Theology and receive the
priestly ordination.
What do you enjoy most about working
as a school chaplain?
I was ordained at the Basilica of St. John
Lateran in Rome, Italy on December 15, 2012
together with Andrew Dalton, my DU brother.
After that I was assigned to work in Atlanta as a
chaplain at Holy Spirit Preparatory School and
as a spiritual director for college students in the
area. Working as a chaplain is the dream job for
me. The desire to have an impact in people’s
lives is realized here. Every day students,
Alumni communication services provided by Elevate | www.elevateims.com | 770-903-3987 | @elevateims
JJ preaching to a group of college students.
teachers, and parents stop by my office to share
triumphs, to seek light in the midst of failures, were suspended or expelled from Tech with no
to hear a word of encouragement.
Being able to visit Georgia Tech and offer
spiritual guidance to current students is another President Peterson is no Dean Wormer; a more
highlight of my work. My own experience as
a former student and a DU brother helps me
connect with them in a special way.
I’ve been able to reconnect with friends
who still have ties to Atlanta. Just a few
weeks ago I was able to baptize the youngest
son of DU brother Michael Vincent ’00.
Then there are others that I’ve been able to
meet for coffee or a meal at different times.
Prep are now DU brothers. I never planned
for that, but it’s certainly great to see guys
I’ve mentored in high school choose a great
university and a great fraternity. We still meet
up quite frequently.
What advice can you give the alumni and
young actives about making an impact on
Take advantage of the time you have to
live for others. Our culture makes it easy
for us to have it our way at all times. But
a life spent living for others, being aware
of the needs of those around us, ultimately
makes us better men: the kind of men people
around you deserve.
Save the Date
Homecoming
2016
10/29 vs. Duke Blue Devils
President
(Continued from Page 1)
high focus on preventing sexual assault. Just
so you know, the definition of consent these
days is a “Sober Enthusiastic Yes.” Almost all
claims of sexual assault involve alcohol.
The Office of Student Integrity (OSI)
and the academic and non-academic Honor
Code judicial process were addressed. OSI
is an alternative to getting law enforcement
involved in Honor Code violations. The
OSI standard is not “innocent until proven
guilty.” Instead, the much lower threshold
“more likely than not responsible for violating
the Honor Code.” Furthermore, Tech had a
punishment titled “Suspension in Abeyance”
that resembled “Double Secret Probation,”
except for real. Students and organizations
appeals process. This caused an eruption and
hearings in the Georgia Legislature, and Tech
quickly dropped “Suspension in Abeyance.”
reasonable and balanced process is now in
place, and this Conference did not shy away
from addressing this controversy.
A much more positive session addressed
the 25 Year Campus Master Plan and Greek
Facilities. Tech is making a big effort to become
LEED certified, recycle water, and minimize
heat deserts of asphalt parking lots. The Greek
system is being considered on a good faith
basis, and Tech is working to provide spaces for
additional fraternity and sorority houses. Tech
has to step up their game for campus housing,
as about 4,000 bed spaces are being built by
private developers around the edges of campus.
Most Tech dorm rooms are $4,500 per semester
per person, and the new near-off campus
housing is priced about the same. Fortunately
our rent + chapter dues are less than $4,500 per
semester. Our better location and competitive
cost will help us maintain a high occupancy.
Tech’s enrollment has doubled since 1995, so
the demand for on-campus housing remains
strong. Future campus expansion will extend
from the Varsity north to 10th Street from the
Expressway to West Peachtree. Much will be
privately developed, with Tech leasing space.
Spring and West Peachtree are likely to be
converted back to two-way streets to make the
area more walkable and bicycle friendly. So
DU will be centrally located as the campus
extends eastward to West Peachtree between
North Avenue and 10th Street.
Please visit the chapter when you can, and
alumni are especially welcome during Rush
Week. I personally hope to see fellow DUs
at the BC game in Ireland!
Best regards,
Bob McKeeman
GT DU ’77
President, DU Continuum of Education