Dear President, VP of Mission, Director of Alumni Relations, and the Board of Trustees of DeSales University:

     DeSales University plans to demolish the Salesian Center and Alacoque House (the two houses across the road from Billera Hall) in the coming weeks.  Apparently, the university wants to demolish the buildings and gradually insert a statue, fountain, and garden as part of a welcome area, but the university does not realizes the past and potential benefits these buildings have to our university.  St. Francis de Sales once wrote “Be who you are, and be that well.”  The DeSales University’s identity is not that of an impersonal, run of the mill school but rather a smaller, personal school where students and staff know and care about each other.  The houses help uphold our identity by providing intimate spaces for students, faculty, and staff to gather.    

     The houses have served the university in many capacities including as an intimate setting for events, a study area, housing for staff, and lodging for guest speakers.  I have made and deepened friendships because of events at these houses, and those friendships have impacted and improved my life greatly.  I am sure many other current students as well as alumni have fond, meaningful memories of one or both of the houses.

      I propose that Alacoque House and the Salesian Center host not only events for Campus Ministry but also for CSSJ, PACE, and CAB so that everyone can enjoy their personal, home-like atmospheres.  To aid marketing, one building could house a part of the Admissions Office so perspective students get a taste of DeSales’ focus on community and personal relationships.  Gradually, the houses could be renovated and aspects of the proposed welcome space integrated around the houses without losing these special features of our campus.  These two houses are unique to DeSales University, so I implore you not to demolish them but to let them continue to help our DeSales community “be who we are and be that well.”

Quick Look

Past and or Current uses for Alacoque House:

·         Study Area

·         Housing for university staff

·         Lodging for visiting lectures

·         Discernment Group

·         Bible Studies

·         Finals Week Study Break Events

Past and Current uses for Salesian Center:

·         Home of the Salesian Center for Faith and Culture

·         Retreat Location

Potential Additional Uses for Alacoque House and/or Salesian Center:

·         Center for Service and Social Justice events

·         PACE events

·         CAB events

·         Grad Assistant Housing

·         Admissions Welcome Area

Possible Replacement:

·         Welcome Area featuring a statue, a fountain, and a meditation garden.

Problems with Replacement:

·         The fountain and meditation garden are unlikely to be used much during colder months.

Please share the petition on social media, and share your selfies with the houses

@desalesuniversity on Instagram

@DeSales on Twitter

#AlwaysForAlacoque

#SaveTheSalesianCenter

For more information contact Carmine Cicalese at cc1211@desales.edu

Hope only dies when you let it!