The trees were shorter, the surrounding city sparser, and the student population smaller when Gregory Roper began his undergraduate education at the University of Dallas more than four decades ago. As he now undertakes the responsibility of leading the university’s undergraduate school as the new dean of the Constantin College of Liberal Arts, much about his alma mater’s campus is different than it once was — but the mission at the heart of the school, he said, remains the same.
University of Dallas
At the beginning of each academic year, the University of Dallas’ dean and director of libraries and research Ron Scrogham sees a familiar sight: Incoming students — often accompanied by their parents — make their way into the Cowan-Blakley Memorial Library entrance, through the William A. Blakley Building, and up to the university’s Core Text Collection: a selection of 2,456 books, representing 76 unique titles across a slew of disciplines, which are ready to be checked out of the library for use in the semester ahead. Within about two weeks of the beginning of each term, most of the books in the collection have already been plucked from the library, stuffed into backpacks, and carried to classrooms.
Artificial intelligence is quickly bringing about the end of the world as people know it — but Pope Leo XIV has an urgent message for everyone: Don’t run from the change AI brings; instead, engage it.
The Serra Clubs of Dallas welcomed new members and installed officers during a June 20 Mass and luncheon celebrating the organization’s mission to promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Ahead of the fireworks and the flag-waving, and before the barbeques, ceremonies, and parades, American Catholics approaching the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence this Fourth of July may well pause to ask: Is all this pomp truly patriotism? And further: What is patriotism in the Catholic understanding, and how can it be practiced well?
The University of Dallas has appointed Dr. Gregory Roper, BA ’84, as dean of the Constantin College of Liberal Arts.
With finals looming, many university students are tied to their studies. Some are locked away in the library with their noses in books; some are rehearsing the words of an approaching presentation or turning in lingering essays; others are savoring their last days on campus before graduation — bittersweetly noting a last class, a last assignment, a last office visit with a favorite professor.
It was baseball, in a sense, that first took Walker Alsobrooks away from the Mass — packing his Saturdays and Sundays so full that his parents stopped taking him to church each weekend — but it was baseball, too, that had a hand in leading him back, according to the newly baptized University of Dallas student athlete, who was initiated into the Catholic Church this Easter Vigil.
In a display of community partnership, Catholic Charities Dallas joined forces with the University of Dallas, Bank of America, and Pro Players Foundation to host a heartwarming event that provided 100 bicycles to local families.
Traveling from the Diocese of Dallas to the city of Rome, pilgrim groups from schools and parishes across north Texas made a big showing at the Vatican’s Jubilee of Youth, July 28-Aug. 3.