The University of Saint Francis is hosting two events that will examine the issues surrounding the plight of Syrian refugees. Each event will be free and open to the community at the USF North Campus, 2702 Spring Street.
“The Syrian Refugee Crisis – Facts vs. Fiction” will be presented on February 11, 2016 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Attendees will learn about the current crisis and its historical context amid the flood of information and misinformation in the media. Hear the accounts of three Fort Wayne men, Sam Jarjour, Amar Masri and Caleb Jehl, along with their friend Troy E. Spier, an activist and Ph.D. student whom they met on the ground in Eastern Europe while working with Syrian refugees. Attendees will hear personal stories of Syrian families and those trying to help them in their perilous escape from a war-torn homeland to places of safety in the West.
Ed and Paula Kassig, parents of American aid worker Peter Kassig, who was taken hostage and slain by ISIS in November, 2014, will also be present to discuss how they have continued their son’s important work in serving Syrian refugees.
On March 3, 2016, USF will host “The Syrian Refugee Crisis – What Can Be Done?” from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Representatives of groups that are now active in resettling refugees will share their stories and talk about how anyone can help their cause. More information about the March 3 event will be forthcoming.
Founded in 1890 as a comprehensive university in the Catholic Franciscan tradition, USF offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate programs through the School of Health Sciences, School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Keith Busse School of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership and School of Creative Arts. In addition to its traditional programs, the university designs focused curricula for working adults in Fort Wayne, Crown Point and online. The university will open a Downtown Fort Wayne Campus in the fall of 2016 that will feature business, entrepreneurship and music technology programs. Currently 2,300 students from a broad geographic region attend USF for its academic excellence.
