State of the University Address

I just got an email in my luc.edu inbox (every student gets an email that ends in @luc.edu when they arrive at Loyola) explaining that Fr. President Michael Garanzini will be delivering his State of the University Address soon.

I went to his last address, and I have to admit he delivers a good speech. He does not seem to follow a script (I was sitting in the front row) and he does a good job of infusing humor into his delivery. I remember one line he had when he was going over the state of the university’s finances. I am paraphrasing here, but it went something like this:

“Fiscally, you all know that we are doing very well compared to our counterparts across the country. Higher education is something of a recession-proof business. When you graduate high school, you go to college and get a degree, and if the economy is bad you go back and get another degree!”

He also did a good job of explaining all the construction and purchasing projections that Loyola is working on. They have some very cool, and very ambitious, ideas betting put into action.

I remember that during the Q & A portion of the address, towards the end, he also worked the room very well. He was asked some tough questions by some more dissatisfied members of the student body or faculty, but he generally seemed to be accepted well by everyone there.

Since I was seated in the front row , I happened to sit next to our new provost, John Pelissero. He and I spoke a little before the event and I gave him my own view of the Core Curriculum. I remember being impressed with his down-to-earth demeanor, even though he appears so professional, and enjoying his genuine interest in my student experience. Since then I have run into him a few more times, and he always has remembered who I was.

So, even though this is my last year here, I think I will attend the State of the University Address again. I learned a lot, and you never know who else will be there.