CJC Students Participate in Human Rights Symposium in Poland
*In the picture, Sadie is the left and Abigail is on the right.
Abigail and Sadie, studying abroad at the John Felice Rome Center (JFRC) in Fall 2025,
travelled to Poland at the time of the conference along with four other Loyola students. The topic
of the conference, “Democracy in Crisis: Authoritarian Rule and Its Impact on Human Rights
and the Rule of Law,” really spoke to the CJC senior majors.
About the experience, Abigail writes, “Listening to candid discussions and presentations about
international disinformation, judicial pressure, and democratic erosion further grounded me in
my aspirations to pursue a career in law committed to protecting democratic institutions and
advancing justice.” She added that the experience “reminded me that democracy is not self-sustaining; it depends on people willing to question, participate, and act. I returned with a deeper
awareness of both the vulnerability of democratic institutions and my own responsibility to
approach questions of justice with intention.”
Sadie further elaborated on the experience. “Prior to attending the panel events in Warsaw, we
stayed in Krakow, where we learned about Polish culture and history. This included a visit to the
Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, where later conversations about the dangers of fascism raised
during the panels took on a physical form.” She went on to add, “… the panels offered moments
of clarity and hope. Listening to election observers and mutual aid organizers made it clear that
meaningful change is possible when communities act in solidarity with one another. I came back
to Chicago not only more informed about global events, but also more aware of the role I feel
compelled to play in addressing them.”
*In the picture, Sadie is second from left and Abigail is second from the right.
Opportunities such as this symposium are an excellent example of Loyola’s effort to enhance its
international footprint and provide students a chance to immerse themselves in a real-world
application of Loyola’s mission. Congratulations to both Abigail and Sadie for being selected for
the trip and for representing CJC with pride!
For more information, see Report from the conference “Democracy in Crisis: Authoritarian Rule and Its Impact on Human Rights and the Rule of Law” – Wydział Nauk Politycznych i Studiów Międzynarodowych