North Cook News

Loyola Academy President Rev. Patrick E. McGrath, SJ, has penned a letter to parents apologizing for an assignment that was given to ethics class students on the subject of white privilege.

"Let me be clear: We have never – and will never – ask students to apologize for their race,” McGrath wrote. “Part of this assignment included questions that were inappropriate and left some students feeling defensive. Those questions are no longer being used. As with any important ethical issues, we hope to challenge our students to be critical thinkers who work to address complex problems in light of our Catholic faith."

McGrath, who is set to retire next year, went on to explain that a structured study of racism has been part of the course’s curriculum for more than two decades and will continue to be the case on some level.

While describing some of the reports about the assignment as “incorrect characterization,” McGrath added “in accordance with our Jesuit, Catholic mission we are committed to following the call of Jesus to be a community of love and inclusion. It is not easy, but it is crucial.”

The North Cook News previously reported questions on the assignment included “How do you benefit from white privilege, and how have you held onto that benefit; What have you learned about the ways you specifically wield this privilege that do harm (whether you intend or not) and “What have you learned about your white privilege that makes you uncomfortable?”

More recently, Fox News posted student Hannah Brennan’s comments about the class on its website with the student sharing, "there are a lot of students who feel super uncomfortable doing this because they don't agree with white privilege and the ideology behind it. It reminds me of China with the reeducation camps. It feels like they're very much pushing their opinions as facts and teaching opinions as facts.”