Viterbo holds first annual Franciscan Day of Service Learning and Social Justice

On October 5, 2021, Viterbo launched the first annual Franciscan Day of Service Learning and Social Justice. The day began with a university-wide invitation to gather for coffee, breakfast, and a blessing. Afterwards, students and staff participated in service opportunities within the community.  

This year, Viterbo’s Franny Fest returned as a part of the Franciscan Day of Service Learning and Social Justice, and free lunch was provided to the university community. Aside from lunch, Franny Fest provided an opportunity for Viterbo’s clubs and organizations to interact with students. Each booth that was set up as part of Franny Fest had a social justice aspect to it and was presented in an engaging way to get students excited and thinking about the importance of social justice. Franny Fest also hosted local vendors in a farmer’s market set-up, involving the community in the day and creating an opportunity for students to purchase local produce and other goods.  

With social justice as the focus of the day, Student Government Association’s president, Logan Jancsurak, stated the importance of making student voices heard. SGA arrived at Franny Fest with the intention of encouraging students to attend meetings, saying that they are always open to all. “SGA wants to gather student voices and share them with administration,” Jancsurak said.  

In addition to SGA, Viterbo’s counseling and advising teams were also present at Franny Fest. Their booth’s focus was taking care of one’s self while working for social justice. With an array of slime, fidget toys, information on self-care, and resources on where to reach out for help if necessary, students and staff could build a “self-care kit.” The booth was organized largely by Jodi Reider, an academic advisor. Reider explained that “it’s important to take care of yourself so you have the energy to put towards social justice and having those conversations.” She expressed that social justice conversations could not be had without proper mental health care, because if people aren’t taking care of themselves, they don’t have mental and emotional space to dedicate to other important causes.  

As Franny Fest ended, students and faculty alike headed to numerous social justice and equity workshops around campus. These workshops, developed and taught by Viterbo faculty and community members, were widely varied in subject, which allowed students to choose options that interested them. The workshops focused on social justice as it relates to topics ranging from social media to the stigma towards mental illness to the horrors of youth incarceration. While the schedule of the day would make it impossible to attend all the workshops, each ran twice, so students could pick two to go to.  

In the evening, the campus community was encouraged to attend the New Horizons Domestic Violence Gathering and Walk in downtown La Crosse to raise awareness about domestic violence in the community. In extension of the Franciscan Day of Service Learning and Social Justice, several social justice panels were held through the remainder of the week and into the next, with Viterbo bringing experts in their fields to speak on social justice, both on campus and on Zoom.