Image of a president
Issue date: 8/24/07 Section: Letters to the Editor
- Page 1 of 1
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
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
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
michael kurtz
posted 8/27/07 @ 2:03 PM CST
The faculty senate or the student government must take leadership here and vote no confidence or the trustees will never take notice.
Former SLU Employee
posted 9/29/07 @ 7:04 PM CST
Please. No one notices. Wages falling to the bottom 10% of slu's peer group. Hiring freezes transcending time and space. No funding support for curricular matters much less professional development. (Continued…)
former editor
posted 10/01/07 @ 11:03 PM CST
Having known Avis for quite some time now, I think it's great that the constant, behind-the-scenes struggle he has maintained for the past two decades is finally rising to the surface. (Continued…)
Nick Sarcone - Former SGA Pres
posted 10/04/07 @ 2:43 PM CST
I commend Avis for his years of struggle. For the short time I was at SLU I struggled with on his side unfortunately to no avail. It is hard to motivate a student population unless something very directly affects them. (Continued…)
Former SLU Employee
posted 10/08/07 @ 12:13 PM CST
I couldn't agree more with the following facts
1) Larry is a real estate developer and not a college president 2) SLU and its Jesuit Mission and Values-we talk the talk but dont walk the walk. (Continued…)
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