Maroon

              Maroon Vol. XXXVIII Loyola University, New Orleans, La., Friday, April 27, 1962 Anniversary Issue President's message... As early as last fall, with the prospects of the Golden Jubilee year of our university charter in the offing for 1962, Loyola administrators decided that the celebration of the event would be modest, comparatively quiet, and committed for details to the various schools and colleges. Though this decision has not met with universal approval, it has been carried out with satisfactory success, as witness the several accounts fo various events in this and other issues of The Maroon. And the school by school celebration eminently befits the historical evolution of Loyola itself. Some of the schools, e.g.. Pharmacy, ante-date the university itself, and some, like the arts and sciences are really more than a hundred years old. As such, they participated in the New Orleans Jesuit Centennial celebration in 1947. The truth is of course that anniversaries are like stimulants. They are useful when taken in moderation, but they can produce coma or dizziness if repeated too often. The important thing is to make sure they remind us that we are old enough to have treasurer traditions, and yet young enough to be adventurous in blazing new and untried trails. For such a balanced view, 50 seems just about the right age for an institution of higher learning. Accordingly, Loyola and all its constituencies should be ready to make the most of this assured maturity joined with still youthful vigor. Certainly the students of this 50th charter year would have reason to demand of themselevs, now and after graduation, achievements that will reflect merited credit on alma mater. It is the prayer of the administrators and faculty of Loyola university that this will be realized. VERY REV. ANDREW C. SMITH, S.J. President of Loyola Education is mission of New Orleans Jesuits By ROSEMARY RUIZ Pre-university era In 1722 the Rev. Pierre Francois-Xavier de Charlevoix, S.J., the Jesuit historian, stood on the banks of the muddy Missisippi river and surveyed New Orleans. It was a small, miserable village in the wilderness, but Father Charlevoix was seeing another New Orleans in another time. "I have the best-grounded hopes," he wrote, "for saying that this wild and deserted place, at present almost entirely covered over with canes and trees shall one day, and perhaps that day is not very far off, become the capital of a large and rich colony." The Jesuits in France agreed with Father Charlevoix. This city which promised so much by reason of its geography, climate, natural resources, and industrious natives demanded the dedicated, efficient work of their order. The New Orleans mission of the Jesuit Fathers was established in 1723 with the Rev. Joseph Francois de Kereben, S.J., as its first superior. Two years later Father de Beaubois, then in charge, considered opening a college to help realize the dreams of this city with a future, but the time for it had not yet ripened. They were still a small group working mainly among the Indians. In 1733 Father de Beaubois appealed to the home administration in France for a school, but it was ignored. Then the Jesuits were surpressed in 1763, and things looked bleak indeed for the Catholic Church in Louisiana. • DETERMINED COMEBACK In 1823, however, the invincible Jesuits were back and founded St. Charles college in the town of Grand Coteau, which flourished from the start. In New Orleans things did not go so well. A year later the Rev. Michael Portier, S.J., opened a college in the old Ursuline convent in the lower part of the city, but when he was made Bishop of ... Looking Inside • You can get first hand reports of what Loyola was like "way back when" from the two guest columnists, Dr. John Connor, professor of economics, and Mr. Gar Moore, former editor of The Maroon and Wolf. For the full story turn to . . . page 4 • Did you know that Thespians pre-dates the university itself? There's a complete story on the group's history on . . . page 7 • Beginning in 1912 and every ten years thereafter is a picture depicting a scene from Loyola's past. It is a wonderful picture story and can be found on . . . page 9 • The 1920's and '30's was Loyola's Golden Era for sports. It is a fantastic story of some of the I real greats in the sports world. For all the details turn to . . . D pages 11-14 Loyola commemorates 50th Anniversary of receiving university charter by state Hard times of Jesuits starting LU retailed Years of struggle it took; years of toil against swamp, savages, and political intrigue for the Society of Jesus. But today Loyola university stands after 50 years of history, one of more than 200 Jesuit colleges and universities in the world and a monument of faith and culture to the Jesuit Fathers and to the students under them. Born in a small structure in the heart of downtown New Orleans, it now lives and grows in the residential section of St. Charles avenue, facing Audubon park. The story is told that the Rev. William Power, S.J., superior of the southern province at that time, called the Rev. Albert Biever, S.J., into his office, gave him 10 cents carfare, and told him "to go uptown and found a university." Instead, Father Biever founded a college and an academy— the beginnings of Loyola university. They also bore the name Loyola.• NINE REGISTER When opened in September, 1904, all of nine students registered. Only one was classified as a college student, the rest attending the preparatory courses at the academy. Registering first was Charles L. Seeman, now a New Orleans accountant. Classes were first held in what is now known as Campion hall, situated on Marquette place. A modest lawn served as campus. The hall is used today as a residence for some of the Jesuit Fathers. Father Biever was assisted on the small faculty by the Revs. William Salentin, Augustin E. Fields, and Lawrence White, all of the Society of Jesus. Subjects taught were Latin, Greek, French, mathematics, history, geography, penmanship, elocution, and religion. • 50th STUDENT In 1908 Father Biever promised to suspend classes for a day when the 60th student registered. He kept his promise. The first graduategraduate was Basil R. Beltram, well known Philadelphia doctor. The college grew, and in 1906 Father Biever called a Catholic men's conference to get funds for a new building. Mr. W. E. Claiborne was made acting chairman of the group. Later the Marquette Association for Higher Education was formed with Mr. B. A. Oxnard as president. This group was responsible for the building of Marquette hall, begun in 1910. Complying with the demands of the public and the wishes of His Excellency, the Most Rev. James J. Blenk, then Archbishop of New Orleans, the college was expanded into Loyola university in the fall of 1911. • JESUIT HICH The College of the Immaculate Conception and the old academy were merged to form Jesuit high school, which now stands on Carrollton avenue. Sixty-nine students registered when the university opened its doors in September, 1911. The original faculty, with the exception of Father Biever, was gone, and serving in their places were the Revs. Patrick A. Ryan, Paul Faget, Augustine C. Porta, Joseph B. Franckhauser, Peter P. O'Sullivan, Henry R. Fleuren, Louis G. Bashnal, Joseph Gerlach, Robert M. Brooks, and Michael J. Walsh. In this first session professors were assigned subjects rather than a particular grade or class. Early in 1912 the Jesuits applied for a charter from the Louisiana state legislature. After hearing that some of the non-Catholic The future of Loyola will see the construction of several new buildings and the expansion of Loyola's campus. Pictured above is the new men's dormitory building on which construction will begin the first week of May. When completed it will house 400 male students with two students to a room. Cost will be over $1 million. The air-conditioning plant (pictured right), presently under construction, will be completed next year at a cost of $525,000. It will be a three level, windowless building that will eventually air-condition all buildings on campus, those existing and those to be constructed. members were saying that the Jesuits had not yet shown themselves capable of conducting a university, Father Biever himself stood on the senate floor and delivered a fiery speech in defense of the Order. • GRANT CHARTER "The sun does not set on any part of the universe in which there is not a Jesuit university," he declared. The now-famous saying must have had its effect, for the legislature granted the charter in April. After its final approval the following July, Loyola was authorized to grant all university degrees.Marquette hall, costing more than $400,000 was ready for the first session under the newly granted charter. The first degree under the new charter was conferred in March, 1913. The following years were marked with extensive building and expansion programs. Thomas hall, named for Mrs. Louise C. Thomas, a university benefactor, was dedicated in May, 1912. Today it is used as the rectory. In 1924 Bobet hall was begun. Named after Mrs. E. J. Bobet, it was built to house the scientific equipment of the various schools being added to the university. The stadium and McDermott Memorial church were begun about this time. • NEW PRESIDENT Father Biever was removed as president of the university in 1912, since no Jesuit priest may hold a high office for more than six years. Following his removal, he was made pastor of the Most Holy Name of Jesus church, and was later connected with the Jesuit missions. He died in 1934. In 1914, the school of dentistry, long a dream of Father Biever, was organized under his successor, the Rev. Alphonse Otis, S.J., The school was founded by Dr. C. Victor Vignes after a short conference with Father Otis. On October 9, with 26 students attending, the school held its first class in the basement of Marquette hall. At this time the clinic was on the second floor of the same building, where the president's office is now. Later it was moved to its present place on the second floor of Bobet hall. Dentistry students have the use of modern laboratories and facilities of several New Orleans hospitals. The school was organized under the general charter and governed by the board of directors. It is a member of the American Association of Dental Schools. Dr. Vignes served as dean until 1937 and is now dean emeritus. • EVENING DIVISION The Jesuits established the evening division of the school of law in October, 1914. First classes were held in Alumni hall, a part of the former College of the Immaculate Conception. At the end of the first year, the larger enrollment made it necessary to move the school to Marquette hall. Day classes were begun in 1925, and from September, 1941 until May, 1942 classes were held in Biever hall. Since May, 1942, classes have been in Thomas More hall. Aiming to develop sound and discriminating judgment in students, the school is a member of the Association of American Law Groundbreaking for Marquette hall. This is the scene of the groundbreaking cere- platform in the center of the picture. From here mony for Marquette hall as pictured in the Archbishop Blenk and Mayor Behrman plus many Times-Democrat the morning of August 1, 1910. others spoke to the "several thousands" that Marquette was the main building from which attended the ceremonies. The building on the the university was expected to grow. The time left hand side is the Burke Memorial seismatic was 6 p.m. "just as the sun began to sink" the observatory dedicated the day before. Groundrimes-Democrat reported. Note the speaker's breaking was July 31, 1910. (See COMMEMORATES, page 3) (See UNIVERSITY ERA, page 8) FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY