On Oct. 10, University President Lawrence Biondi, S.J.,
spoke with The University News for an in-depth interview. Among the
highlights:
Biggest challenge upon assuming his presidency: “To give
our students a real solid, good experience as undergraduates.”
His relationship with the students: “Everybody wants the
president’s time. Benefactors want my time; students want my time,
faculty. And yet there are only 24 hours in the day. Any
administrator, whether it is a CEO of a company, CEO of a
university or CEO of a small bakery company, they have to pick and
choose, at the same time being sensitive to the needs of the people
who are really important to a particular institution … I don’t
think I have ever turned down–unless there is a conflict–[a
student’s invitation to attend an event] … Sometimes I get
invitations from certain fraternities or sororities to attend, and
I [have] to choose … I have to look at, am I free that night? …
I am a high energy person, so if I am free, I wouldn’t mind
stopping by.”
Students’ perception of a president: “It’s seldom that a
student comes up to me and begins a conversation … I’m not a hard
person. I like to kid … I don’t mind joshing with kids, but then
I [have] to realize that I am talking to an 18, 19-year-old kid …
there is a myth about a president, too. We are normal … I am a
normal person.”
How SLU students have changed during his tenure: “I think
you are getting a group of students who are a little bit more
conservative in the sense that they don’t take everything for face
value. They are more critical, which I am pleased that they are,
because that is one of the hallmarks of a Jesuit education–to be
able to think critically and analyze things well, as opposed to
being bombarded by the media to think a particular way. I think
they can pause, pull back and tear things apart.”
Problems that exist on campus: “I think I’ve noticed that
depression and alcoholism are gaining, unfortunately, with our
students. Counselors should pay attention, faculty should pay
attention they’re seeing students as much as three times a week. I
don’t think we teach students how to drink sensibly, and
depression–you know, people go through a lot of stress in their
lives, but I think that what we need to do is always remind
students that there are people who are interested in them as
individuals, as people … What students have to realize, too, and
be encouraged to ask for help. There’s always that balance between
being an adolescent and an adult which is a big hurdle.”
A non-working weekend: “If I am free and if I am in town
and I don’t have commitments–which isn’t too often–I usually work
here on Saturday and Sunday. One thing I did the past couple of
years is learn how to fly. I always wanted to learn how to fly so
it took me a long time because I could only fly on the weekends. If
I am free I visit relatives or friends here in the area. I lead a
pretty normal life.”
The selection of campus artwork: “Now we have a committee
… right now, I would say the last four or five years, there have
been a group of people going to different places to buy
artwork.”
One course he would take: “I would take an arts
appreciation course because I don’t seem to have any deep
appreciation of art. My taste has always been somewhat challenged.
So I would take courses from art appreciation professors to really
learn how to appreciate art.”
His biggest achievement thus far at SLU: “I think the
biggest achievement is getting really good chairmen and deans to
buy into the excellence of SLU. If you get the right people who
share the same vision and the same mission of the University, then
you can do a lot of things.”
How much longer he expects to stay: “I don’t know. I mean
as long as I think I have the energy and the desire, and think I’m
doing good work. As long as I am happy, the board is happy and my
superiors are happy.”
