Magis (Service Organization)

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Magis


Established	2003
Type	Service Organization
Location	Los Angeles, California, United States
Campus	Loyola Marymount University
Website	aslmu.lmu.edu/magis

The service organization Magis (pronounced "màh-gis") is a group based on the Jesuit phrase that means "the more". The phrase itself is taken from Ad majorem Dei gloriam, meaning "for the greater glory of God". Magis refers to doing more for Christ. Founded on the principles of Diversity, Service, and Spirituality, Magis strives to create men whose soul mission and lifestyle is to produce the "more".

[edit] History

Magis was started in 2003 to create a service organization that would create a new service organization the male population of the Loyola Marymount University Campus.

In recent years, Loyola Marymount has seen a steady increase in the amount of students applying for service organization. Unfortunately, due to limited openings, the five existing organizations were unable to accommodate all interested students and were forced to turn away many qualified applicants. In May 2003, Magis was founded in order to help address this issue by offering another alternative for males. Magis was also established to help boost overall male involvement in service and leadership on campus.

Magis enjoyed its first recruitment in Spring 2004 and has begun the process of cementing itself as an established organization on campus. The group is made up of 25 males from the Sophomore, Junior, and Senior classes. In their first year, members have attended meetings and retreats, established and developed relationships with the service placements, served, fundraised, and explored social justice issues. At the end of Fall Semester 2004, Magis held a letter writing session for Amnesty International, which approximately 25 students and faculty attended. Magis looks forward to growth and plans to extend its hands farther into the communities it serves and the justice issues it fights for.

The three pillars represent the fundamental principles of MAGIS: service, diversity, and spirituality. The larger pillar in the center represents service, Magis' key aim. According to Magis, diversity and spirituality are two necessary components that help complete a life of service. Thus the two pillars adjacent to the center.