Loyola University New Orleans is celebrating its 100th anniversary with coordinated university-wide projects and signature celebrations hosted by the Centennial Committee.
The Centennial Committee is composed of 23 representatives from the colleges, admissions, Student Affairs, Mission and Ministry, the library, Student Government Association, Physical Plant, Institutional Advancement and finance, according to Terry Fisher, the committee vice chair.
“The office of Institutional Advancement implements the marketing and communications aspect of the Centennial Committee,” said Bill Bishop, the current committee chair and vice president of Institutional Advancement.
“We will have two major capstone events for the centennial celebration, preferably speakers,” Bishop said.
Nominations for the Centennial Committee high-profile speakers were submitted March 31, according to Fisher. The two major speaker events will be scheduled for fall 2012 and spring 2013.
“The criteria for the speaker was that they should be nationally or internationally recognized, adhere to Loyola’s mission by words or deeds and be well received by the student body or community at large,” Fisher said.
Students, however, have differing views on who should speak. “I’d like to see someone that students could relate to. Someone like Kanye West,” said Garrett Fontenot, history junior.
“I think we should find the oldest alumni or staff available who would be able to give perspective on the history of and changes that Loyola has gone through over the past 100 years. Age does give a certain perspective,” said Allison Derrick, economics junior.
“I would like Colin Powell. He is someone who values hard work and demonstrates a great ability to make sound judgements in times of turmoil,” said Cody Dardeau, criminal justice junior.
Along with the speaker events, a centennial book, lectures, seminars and a “Share your Memories” website will come out in 2012.
“We are doing a centennial book about the 100-year history of Loyola and the history of the Jesuits in Louisiana,” Fisher said.
“It is by history professor Bernard Cook, and it will be available for our capstone event in April 2012,” Fisher said.
“We also have a website where we are soliciting alumni and staff to leave their memories, and these postings, gathered over the next 12 months, will be used for this site,” Fisher said.
The centennial celebration is only a year away, and it will be a two-year project, according to Fisher.
When the graduating class of 2012 were freshmen, a picture of them was taken, marking the 1912-2012 period.
“Loyola has been an integral part of the city, and the Jesuits have also,” Fisher said.
“It is just a great opportunity to bring people back to campus, and we will certainly have banners and logos around campus. This will just be a fun year,” Fisher said.
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