2008 Woodie Awards
Linnane delivers first public address
Kristen Boyle
Issue date: 9/13/05 Section: News
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"It is my initial impression that the college is thriving," said Father Linnane.
After thanking David Hadaad for his leadership while he served as interim president after Father Ridley passed away in January, Father Linnane spoke about Father Ridley and his dreams for Loyola.
"Father Ridley had vision of Loyola and he worked tirelessly to achieve them," said Linnane.
As for his personal goals, objectives and future develop-ments for the school, Father Linnane listed several projects around the campus but did not want to articulate his own vision for the school until he has a chance to know the campus better.
"My goal for this year is to learn more about the college community and culture," he said.
To accomplish his goal, Father Linnane plans to meet with the faculty, both academic and non-academic, as well as to continue speaking with students and alumni in order to create a "shared vision" of the future of the school.
In his effort to learn more about the school, Father Linnane has read the campus climate survey and said that the results, for the most part, were positive and encouraging with some areas needing improvement.
One of the most significant portions of his speech concerned the renovations to the campus in the coming years. First there is the remodeling of the Loyola Notre Dame library, which is already underway. There is also a plan being finalized for the construction of a new residence hall on the east side of campus, where Butler field is currently located.
"The traditional residence hall is needed to address the increase in students that need housing on campus," Linnane said.
Finally, there is the new intercollegiate athletic facility that Father Linnane is commited too, first while he was on the board of trustees for the school and now as president.
"I did not think my enthusiasm for the new intercollegiate athletic facility could be any stronger until I nearly lost my life to a stray lacrosse ball near the campus center recently," said Linnane.