URGENT APPEAL

SAVE MONS. OSCAR ROMERO UNIVERSITY

November 2006

 Dear Friends and Followers of Oscar Romero,

We are writing to you because we are facing the threatened closure of the Monseñor Oscar Arnulfo Romero University, the only rural university serving the poor of northern El Salvador.

 We founded the Monseñor Oscar Romero University in 1993, one year after the signing of the peace accords in El Salvador. We named it for the slain archbishop in fulfillment of his prophecy:

 “If they kill me I will rise again in the people of El Salvador....”

The Oscar Romero University, located in a formerly conflictive zone in Chalatenango Province, now enrolls over 900 students and has graduated 360 new professionals. Its aim is to break the cycle of poverty through education. Most Romero students are the first in their families to attend school beyond fifth or sixth grade.

Problems at the University surfaced last March, when the Rector canceled the commemoration of the 26^th anniversary of Romero’s martyrdom and barred the community from celebrating mass there. We have been dismayed since then to discover that some University administrators have strayed from Romero’s vision. We have uncovered evidence of misappropriation of University resources, including the alleged diversion of funds to a small group of directors. These funds come from students and their families who scrimp and sacrifice on incomes of less than $2 a day in order to pursue their dream of a college education.

We have obtained the assistance of Tutela Legal of the Archdiocese of San Salvador. We are also cooperating with local law enforcement to investigate the extent of the problem and to prosecute those who have violated the law. We have met with the Ministry of Education to request their support to end the corruption and help us realign the University with its original mission. However, the Ministry of Education has indicated that the irresponsibility of these administrators could lead to serious sanctions, including possible closure of the University.   

 We need your support – as members of the international community -- to honor the legacy of Monseñor Romero by helping save the university that bears his name. We must revitalize it as a living memorial to Romero’s vision of the preferential option for the poor and put in place measures to prevent something like this from ever happening again.

You can help:

      Distribute this information to your networks

    Contact your Congressperson. Ask him or her to sign onto the letter of appeal to the President of El Salvador that is being circulated by Representatives Jim McGovern and Chris Van Hollen. The letter asks President Saca to press the Attorney General and the Ministry of Education to help clean up the corruption, keep the University open, and strengthen its long-term financial viability.

    Send a copy of your message to the Attorney General of El Salvador and to the Minister of Education.

    Let us know you took action.

    Donate. PEACE, International has created a fund to defend and revitalize the Oscar Romero University. We hope you will consider making a generous gift. Donations to PEACE, International are tax deductible.

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