As a 1943 graduate of SLU it certainly was interesting to read Matthew Halverson’s interview with Avis Meyer about his confrontations with Reverend Lawrence Biondi, S.J. about student affairs.
Particularly, I was interested because of other recent articles of the Reverend’s attitudes and the shameful firing of the basketball coach, ignoring the athletic director input.
Having retired after 40 years of managing people I’m of the opinion that Reverend Biondi has been on the “job” too long and has apparently become self-centered, obstinate and turned into a control “freak”. This is not uncommon as I have observed this happening in the corporate world as well.
It seems the Reverend’s presidency of SLU has become his vocation rather than an avocation to his priesthood. I would suggest also that the Jesuit society could share the “blame” by not limiting the time their university presidents control their organizations’ in “the outside world.” After all they didn’t join the Society of Jesus to be corporate “big-wigs.”
One thing I am sure of, Reverend Biondi certainly will never be the image of Reverend Paul Reinert who was truly a man who loved his student body and met with anyone who wanted to praise, criticize or suggest.
Three cheers for Avis!
Bill Bandle
Saint Louis University, 1943
