Lawrence Biondi
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The Reverend Lawrence H. Biondi of the Society of Jesus |
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|---|---|
| President Emeritus, Saint Louis University | |
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| Installed | August 1987 |
| Term ended | September 2013 |
| Predecessor | Thomas R. Fitzgerald, S.J. (1979-87) |
| Successor | Bill Kauffman, J.D. (interim, 2013-14) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 11, 1970 |
| Rank | Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
December 15, 1938 Chicago, Illinois |
| Nationality | American Italian |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Parents | Hugo and Albertina Biondi |
The Reverend Lawrence H. Biondi of the Society of Jesus is the President Emeritus of Saint Louis University.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, he studied at St. Ignatius College Preparatory School where he first became interested in the Society of Jesus. 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 (A Comparative Study of Tagmemic and Stratificational Grammars, 1966) and his doctorate in sociolinguistics (The Linguistic Development and Socialization of Italian-American Children in Boston’s North End, 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.
In August 1987, Biondi was chosen to be succeed Thomas R. Fitzgerald, S.J. (1979-87) and be installed as the 31st President of Saint Louis University.
Biondi was a controversial figure over the span of his presidency. When asked about his approach to leadership for accomplishing his bold vision, Biondi said his is a "my-way-or-the-highway kind of guy." Members of Saint Louis University's student body criticized him for decisions related to student organizations, housing, and a lack of accessibility and accountability. Other complaints arose around decisions such as banning the Vagina Monologues from campus.
In 2004, a St. Louis newspaper described Biondi as "SLU's No Confidence Man". 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. During the same period, SLU's Faculty Senate tabled but did not vote on a motion of no confidence in Biondi. 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.
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