funding for education is utilized. We need to make sure that public money is used to provide all with sufficient openings to develop their character. Pres. Terumichi: Urged on by our desire to foster an au-thentic human society, one based on respect for the dignity of others and their interrelationships, we seek to focus our efforts on nurturing persons who will turn out to be leaders in solving global issues, by providing the type of education that takes into account society as a whole, and incorporates advanced specialization. At the same time though, we need to further promote and realize the Jesuit educational value of “Men and Women for Others, with Others,” chiefly in these times when soci-ety inclines to expect short-term and practical effects from education. As a Catholic and Jesuit university, what do you feel we need to focus upon? Fr. Sosa: Members of the university’s faculty and staff are here because they feel this is where they can best contrib-ute to Japanese society. In order to maximize their con-tribution, the university ought to invest ample time and resources in their character formation. How much time is offered for their personal growth? In a university, everyone is an educator. The students are educators too. The people in the institution need to keep that awareness growing. Also, being Catholic is, in the original sense of the word, being “universal.” This ought to provide us the ability to net-work with the rest of the world, in a multicultural context. Fr. Sakuma: Among the many initiatives of the Society of Jesus, are there any focusing on knowing the hearts of young people and assisting them in raising their voices? Within the Society of Jesus, will schools retain their signifi-cance for young people?Fr. Sosa: The first step is to listen, and in order to listen, you have to be present. Offer the young people spaces where they can display their sense of responsibility and gain expe-rience. Job recruitment ads often stipulate that candidates be persons “with experience,” but one does not attain experi-ence all of a sudden. You have to begin somewhere. That is why I say spaces for young people are essential. This is the second step. The third step is to be consistent and coherent in what you say and do as an adult, and maintain a dialogue with the young. Pres. Terumichi: In the course of the lecture, there were remarks as to how universities and their communities ought to become sources of reconciliation. This is an issue we members of the faculty and staff ponder over in the course of our lives. Please share with us any ideas you have regard-ing experiences we can offer young people, that might prove effective towards establishing this sort of an understanding. Fr. Sosa: We find so many ways of dividing people. Some-times it is war, race, or religion. Through reconciliation, we can all be brothers and sisters instead of enemies. Differ-ences among us are there to enrich our lives. Universities are always pluralistic and not totalitarian. You can have dif-ferences there, without fights or avoidance. If a university succeeds in offering a pluralistic space, this will engender a greater contribution to the constitution of society. It is important that students, staff, and faculty members experi-ence the process of accepting differences and believing in justice, in the course of their everyday lives on campus. Special Talk8
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