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Lawrence Biondi

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Lawrence Biondi S.J., President of Saint Louis University beginning in 1987.

Lawrence Biondi, S.J., is the president of Saint Louis University. He has been a professor, a department chair, and a dean. He has been president since 1987.

Background

Biondi has been the president of Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Mo. since 1987. A Chicago native, Biondi graduated from St. Ignatius College Preparatory School. Before joining the Jesuit order's Chicago Province in 1973, Biondi taught French and Latin at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, from 1965 to 1967.

Biondi holds six degrees. His master's degree in linguistics (1966) and his doctorate in sociolinguistics (1975) both were conferred by Georgetown University. He has three degrees from Loyola University Chicago and a licentiate in sacred theology from the Jesuit School of Theology at Chicago

Tenure at Saint Louis University

In a 2012 interview Biondi said, “My vision of my legacy is for SLU to be the finest Catholic university in the United States.”[1]. At the age of 73, Biondi said he wants to remain president of the university beyond 2018, the year of SLU's bicentenniel.[2] In 2012, Biondi will mark his 25th year as President of SLU. His time at SLU has witnessed improvements in several areas.[3] [4]

1986-1987 2012-2013
Average ACT score of entering freshmen 22.7 27.2[5]
Student-to-teacher ratio 16 to 1 12 to 1
Endowed chairs and professorships 16 64
Full-time ranked faculty 718 1297
Student-teacher ratio 16-1 12-1
Number of freshmen 1,077 1,604
Total student body 9,869 13,981
Students living on campus 1,992 3,798
Research funding $8.96 million $51 million
University endowment $93 million $890 million
Net assets $504.3 million $1.4 billion
Doctorates awarded 94 166

The campus itself has expanded significantly in his twenty years as well. Among the largest expansions are the Chaifetz Arena and the Doisy Research Center.

1987 2009
SLU-owned Buildings 62 131
SLU-owned acres in Midtown St. Louis 113 286
SLU public safety officers 53 103

SLU also has dropped in recent academic rankings. In the 2013 US News and World Reportcollege ranking, SLU dropped to 92nd overall, from 77th in 2006, the sharpest decline of any university in the top 100 in the U.S.[6] [7]

General Criticism

Biondi has been a controversial figure. When asked about his approach to leadership for accomplishing his bold vision, Biondi has said he is a "my-way-or-the-highway kind of guy."[8] He has been criticized by members of Saint Louis University's student body for decisions related to student organizations, housing, and a lack of accessibility and accountability. Other complaints have arisen around decisions such as banning the Vagina Monologues from campus,[9] and restricting other student organization events and activities. [10] Concerns have been raised about Biondi's handling of bias incidents and diversity concerns,[11] as well as issues related to sexual assault,[12] on campus.

In 2004, a St. Louis newspaper described Biondi as "SLU's No Confidence Man."[13] Centering on issues about shared governance with regard to an increase in parking fees, SLU's Student Government Association passed a motion of no confidence in Biondi on March 30, 1999. [14] During the same period, SLU's Faculty Senate tabled but did not vote on a motion of no confidence in Biondi.[15] In addition, student and faculty governance bodies at SLU threatened but did not finally act upon no-confidence measures in Biondi in 2002, 2004, 2009, and 2010. [16] [17] [18] The faculty did pass such a motion in 2012.[19] The reasons given included violations of shared governance, declining academic rankings, low alumni giving, a stagnant endowment, and "a pervasive culture of fear."[20] [7] SLU's Student Government Association voted no-confidence in Biondi and Patankar the following day.[21]


The votes came after turmoil in the university's school of law. In August 2012, its dean, Dr. Annette Clark, resigned in protest over Biondi's transfer of more than $800,000 from the law school to The President's Opportunity Fund as well as disputes about the funding academic research.[22] Biondi and other SLU administrators said that they had intended to fire Clark before her resignation. [23]

Awards and honors

Biondi has earned the Council for Advancement and Support of Education's Chief Executive Leadership Award. [24] He is a member of the American Society of the Italian Legions of Merit and has been conferred with the rank and title of Cavaliere, Order of Merit, Republic of Italy. [25]

In 1999, Biondi won the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Arthritis Foundation, Eastern Missouri Chapter. In 2001, The St. Louis Ambassadors honored Biondi with the Leon R. Strauss Urban Pioneer Award, which is given to an individual in the St. Louis community who has contributed greatly to the development, restoration or improvement of St. Louis.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch named Biondi one of St. Louis' "Citizens of the Century" in 1999 and Citizen of the Year in 2005. The St. Louis Business Journal has also honored Biondi, recognizing him in 2006 him as one of only 10 "legends" -- individuals "who have gone beyond being influential to become legends in our region and beyond." [26]

American Jewish Committee (AJC) of St. Louis in 2011 honored Biondi with John D. Levy Human Relations Award[27] and in 2012 the Ladue News named him among the "Top-10 Most Dynamic People in St. Louis." [28]

Trapped in Lebanon

Biondi was trapped in Lebanon during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon Conflict. He was removed from the conflict after boarding a Greek-owned, American funded vessel to Cyprus with other Americans stranded there. He was able to return to St. Louis safely. Another priest from St. Louis, Reverend Andre Mhanna, who accompanied Biondi to Beirut, stayed behind to minister to the wounded. [29]

References

  1. ^ http://www.laduenews.com/society/fr-lawrence-biondi-midtown-s-spirit/article_c9a49396-4869-11e1-9d7c-0019bb30f31a.html?mode=story
  2. ^ http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/print-edition/2012/08/10/25-years---architect-of-change.html?page=all
  3. ^ "Gala to Mark 25 Years of Progress at Saint Louis University". www.slu.edu.
  4. ^ "Fact Book". www.slu.edu.
  5. ^ Fast Facts about SLU
  6. ^ http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/st.-louis-university-2506
  7. ^ a b https://docs.google.com/a/slu.edu/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=c2x1LmVkdXxhYXVwLXNsdS1pbnRlcmltfGd4OjdkMDJhM2E5Zjk0MzhkYzU
  8. ^ http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/print-edition/2012/08/10/25-years---architect-of-change.html?page=all
  9. ^ Benanti, Diana. "'Vagina Monologues' may have taken last bow". The University News. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  10. ^ Bloom, Thomas. "Biondi's Five Tactics for Keeping Students Powerless". The University News. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  11. ^ Ernst, Johnathan. "Email campaign focuses on race issues". The University News. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  12. ^ Delaria, Bretton. "Dear SLU, your silence continues". The University News. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  13. ^ http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2004-04-28/news/biondi-issues/
  14. ^ http://unewsonline.com/1999/07/08/noconfidencevoteresultsinlittleactionbyboardoftrustees/
  15. ^ http://www.slu.edu/organizations/fs/agenda_min/FSmin3-30-99.pdf
  16. ^ http://unewsonline.com/2004/04/22/disputeoverpowernotnewtoslu/
  17. ^ http://unewsonline.com/2010/02/06/faculty-senate-indicates-it-wants-to-move-on/
  18. ^ http://unewsonline.com/2010/04/28/strange-days-at-saint-louis-university/
  19. ^ http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/st-louis-university-faculty-votes-no-confidence-in-the-rev/article_fff13f3b-c8ad-5790-b919-06485a41b61a.html
  20. ^ http://www.stltoday.com/slu-senate-faculty-letter-to-board-of-trustees/pdf_04491fd5-c2a4-558d-898f-26009cfd90df.html
  21. ^ http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/st-louis-university-student-government-group-votes-no-confidence-in/article_d8c82c74-1ce9-5648-b367-0c53ba73c6dc.html
  22. ^ {{cite web|title=SLU Law Dean Annette Clark's Resignation Letter 8-8-2012|url=http://www.ksdk.com/assetpool/documents/120808025523_SLU-Law-Dean-Annette-E-Clark-Resignation-Letter-8-8-12.pdf |work= From KSDK.com|accessdate=9 August 20112}
  23. ^ {{cite web|title=Special Message From the President 8-8-12|url=http://www.ksdk.com/assetpool/documents/120808035446_Special%20Message%20from%20the%20President%208-8-12.pdf |work= From KSDK.com|accessdate=9 August 20112}
  24. ^ "Biondi Chosen CASE Chief Executive of the Year". www.slu.edu.
  25. ^ "Biography of Lawrence Biondi, S.J." www.slu.edu.
  26. ^ "www.slu.edu".
  27. ^ "AJC to honor SLU's Biondi with Levy Human Relations Award". St. Louis Jewish Light. May 25, 2011.
  28. ^ "Home Society Fr. Lawrence Biondi: Midtown's Spirit". The Ladue News. January 26, 2012.
  29. ^ "SLU's Biondi reported safe in Lebanon". St. Louis Business Journal.

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