Celebrating Father Biondi's Anniversary - Saint Louis University

Volume 34, Issue 1
Editor
Laura Geiser (A&S ’90, Grad ’92)
Contributors
Allison Babka
Marie Dilg (SW ’94)
Lauren Olson (Intern)
Nick Sargent
“on Campus” nEws storiEs
University Communications
Medical Center Communications
Billiken Media Relations
dEsign
Art Direction: Matthew Krob
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Cover photo by James Visser
EDITOR’S MESSAgE FEATURES
Because University President
Lawrence Biondi, S.J., is
sharing his thoughts in a
Q&A that appears on pages
8-13 of this issue, he begged
off his usual president’s
message and asked me to write
an editor’s message instead.
From 1900-1908 Saint Louis University
was led by William Banks Rogers, S.J., a
visionary who is said to have transformed
SLU. In just eight years as president, he Americanized
and modernized SLU’s academic structure,
re-established the School of Medicine, expanded
the campus, rebuilt the athletic program
and made plans to open a School of Law.
Rogers had a brief but groundbreaking tenure
marked by his prophetic grasp of future
trends, including his early understanding of
the importance of public relations, his emphasis
on alumni development
and his commitment to the St.
Louis community.
In Better the Dream, a history
of Saint Louis University by
William Barnaby Faherty, S.J.,
Rogers is dubbed the “Second
Founder of Saint Louis University.”
Clearly he was a fascinating,
driven man.
I have been intrigued by
Rogers’ story since stumbling
across his achievements many
years ago. But there are probably
very few other people on campus (except
maybe our archivists) who even know his name.
You see, his legacy is not widely known at SLU
today. Yes, SLU once had a Rogers Hall, but
that building is now known as Jesuit Hall. And,
yes, Rogers’ portrait does hang on the second
floor of DuBourg Hall, but it is just one of 30
paintings of past SLU presidents that adorns
the long hallway.
Someday a portrait of our current president,
Lawrence Biondi, S.J., will hang there, too
— his legacy for time and history to decide.
Perhaps one day, Biondi will be known as the
“Founder of the Modern Saint Louis University.”
It’s certainly possible.
Like Rogers before him, Biondi has done his
share of transforming Saint Louis University
during his 20 years here. Of course, his efforts
to improve SLU’s physical campus come
to mind first. But there’s more to his tenure
than that. Just as Rogers did, Biondi has em-
WiLLiAM bAnkS rOgerS, S.J.
phasized academics, established new schools,
re-energized the athletic program and made
SLU a force in the community. (Read about
his reflections on his years at SLU beginning
on page 8.)
Of course, Biondi would be quick to tell you
that he didn’t do it alone. And as I speculate
Rogers would agree, Biondi knows his legacy
is not about him — it is about leaving an outstanding
university for his successor to lead.
The concept of “legacies” brings to mind a
story I heard from Father Biondi’s former assistant,
Mike Isaacson (A&S ’86, Grad Cook
’96), a Broadway producer whom I interviewed
for the summer issue of Universitas.
“You know, the interesting thing about working
for a university is that universities are living
in a weird world,” Isaacson said. “They’re
about today, and they’re about 200 years from
today at the same time. And, when you think
about the legions of people who have worked
for Saint Louis U., and you
walk through those halls, you
can kind of feel history.
“I remember once, early on
with Biondi, we were leaving a
meeting, and it had gone horribly.
He was so frustrated.
“We were quietly walking
in DuBourg Hall through the
second-floor hallway that has
all the paintings of past SLU
presidents. We get two-thirds
down the hall, and Biondi just
stops, and he points at one of
them and says, ‘Who’s that?’
And I say, ‘I don’t know.’ And he says, ‘My
point exactly, so let’s just keep going.’
“It was that sense of even though you may
be heading an institution, the institution is far
bigger than you will ever be, and time leaves
your name in the dust. Your obligation to here
and now is to leave the lights on when your
time is through.”
Maybe that portrait they stopped at was of
Father Rogers; maybe it wasn’t. In any case, I
do know the lights are on at Saint Louis University
— both literally and figuratively — illuminating
the good works, scholarly achievements
and personal successes of our 12,309
students, our 5,436 faculty and staff members
and our 108,110 alumni around the world. For
that light, we can thank Biondi, Rogers and 29
other Jesuits who have served as SLU presidents
and understood the real meaning of legacy.
– Laura Geiser, Editor
Fall leaves frame O’Donnell Hall, home of the Saint Louis University Museum of Art.
UNIVERSITAS www.slu.edu UNIVERSITAS FALL 2007 1
Photo by Kevin Lowder
Photo by James Visser
14
Grand onCe more
DuBourg Hall’s fourth
floor is restored to its
turn-of-the-century glory.
By Allison Babka
16
Treasures To Behold
… and To Be held
A look inside the
University’s rare book and
manuscript collection.
By Marie Dilg
20 Years and
Counting
A Q&A with University
President Lawrence
Biondi, S.J., as he
marks a milestone
anniversary at SLU.
By Laura Geiser
20
a Woman for oThers
Student Rachel
McCullagh is living
SLU’s Jesuit mission.
By Lauren Olson
DEPARTMENTS
2 on Campus
Sword of Loyola honors artist Grant explores
children’s health New blogs offer inside
view of SLU New mall at Medical Center
Portrait of DuBourg Kranz back on campus
6 billiken news
Billiken broadcasts online Basketball
schedules Billiken mascot ranked No. 1
7 Campaign update
A conversation with David Nolda,
director of annual giving programs
22 off the shelf
Eight books from the SLU community
23 Class notes
Catch up with classmates
29 in memoriam
Remembering those members of the SLU
community who recently died
3 0 alumni Events
Find SLU alumni activities wherever you live
32 perspective
A SLU soccer player learns a lot
from those she is teaching
33 The Last word
Letters to the editor