Fund raising, athletics and national prominence were hot topics discussed at a Loyola town meeting.

The Rev. Kevin J. Wildes, S.J., university president, met with the faculty, staff and students to hear their concerns Tuesday. He presented his suggestions and plans for dealing with issues that were already on campus.

Wildes explained how he wants to make a university-wide strategic plan that would help enhance

Loyola’s strengths as a university and strengthen its weaknesses.

One weakness is Loyola’s sensitivity to a reduction in enrollment, according to Wildes. He said that because of a decline in enrollment during this school year, Loyola is suffering a budget shortage of almost $500,000. Wildes said he wants to sustain and increase enrollment, but that he does not want to rely on student tuition for Loyola’s funds. He said the school will raise more money by contacting and becoming familiar with Loyola’s alumni and endowment givers. By developing closer relationships to these organizations, Wildes said, Loyola would be able to do more efficient fund raising.

Wildes also said he has been in contact with the athletic department to make a possible plan that would expand intercollegiate athletics and integrate recreational sports and intercollegiate athletics. Wildes also explained how he wants to focus on developing specific sports.

Before the meeting, he sent out a campus-wide e-mail that outlined the plans and changes that he had concerning athletic scholarships. According to Wildes, there was a positive response.

“I think what people like about it was that I took the time to listen. And I looked at all of the issues,” Wildes said.

Among the concerns of the audience was the physical expansion of Loyola’s campus. Wildes said he wants to build more dorms because the majority of Loyola’s students are not from the Louisiana area. When asked about the previous expansion plan concerning the Broadway campus and the visual arts program, Wildes said he would have to look at the plans again to determine if those they were still adequate for Loyola.

Audience members also asked Wildes to elaborate on his plan for gaining national prominence. He said he wanted to work with vice presidents of the departments and focus on Loyola’s strengths and uniqueness to gain national attention. Wildes noted that something unique to Loyola is the fact that it is the only Jesuit university with a college of music, and Loyola’s strength in communications.

Jack Morris, assistant professor of communications, said he liked Wildes’ ideas, suggestions and plans for gaining national attention.

Marlene Murray, administrative assistant for the sociology department, also said she agreed with Wildes’ plans. Murray said she liked his plan to deal with student affairs and residential life, such as building more dorms, because more students are coming to the university from out of state.

Wildes also elaborated on other plans, such as teaching undergraduates. But he stressed that he was working on two main concerns: making a university-wide strategic plan and meeting people to increase successful fund raising.

Krystle Robinson can be reached at [email protected].