Loyola Marymount University

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Loyola Marymount University


Motto:	Ad maiorem Dei gloriam — Tua Luce Dirige
Motto in English:	For the greater glory of God. — Direct us by thy light.
Established:	1911, (1865)
Type:	Private, Roman Catholic (Jesuit)
Endowment:	$400 million
President:	Rev. Robert B. Lawton, S.J., Ph.D.
Faculty:	839
Undergraduates:	5,746
Postgraduates:	3,226
Location:	Los Angeles, California, United States
Campus:	Urban, 150 acres (0.6 km²)
Conference:	West Coast Conference
Colors:	Crimson, cool grey, blue,
Mascot:	Lion
Website:	www.lmu.edu

Loyola Marymount University (LMU) is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic Jesuit university in Los Angeles, California, United States. The University is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and one of five Marymount institutions of higher education. LMU was created in 1973 by the merger of Marymount College and Loyola University in Los Angeles. Loyola Marymount is the parent school to Loyola Law School located in downtown Los Angeles. LMU is also Ranked #4 by US News and World Report in the University-Master's (West): Top Schools.^[1]

[edit] History

St. Vincent's College, first location, 1866

The names "Loyola" and "Marymount" have long been associated with Catholic higher education in countries around the globe. Saint Ignatius Loyola, founder of The Society Of Jesus, sanctioned the foundation of his order's first school in 1548. The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary have conducted educational institutions since their establishment in France in 1849 by Father Jean Gailhac. These two traditions of education have come together in Los Angeles as Loyola Marymount University.

St. Vincent's College, second location, 1905

The present University is the successor to the pioneer Catholic college and first institution of higher learning in Southern California. In 1865, the Vincentian Fathers were commissioned by Bishop Thaddeus Amat y Brusi to found St. Vincent's College for boys in Los Angeles. Rev. John Asmuth, C.M. served as the first President Rector. The college was originally located in the Lugo Adobe House at the SE corner of Alameda Street and Los Angeles Street. The building was one of few two-story complexes in the city at that time and had been donated by Don Vincente Lugo. Although the building no longer stands, its original site is across Alameda Street from the current Union Station, on the Plaza near the southeast end of the city's historic Olvera Street. After two years, the school moved several blocks over. The campus was surrounded by Broadway, 6th Street, Hill Street, and 7th Street. St. Vincent's College folded into the Society of Jesus's newly founded Los Angeles College in 1911 as they simultaneously opened their high school division (Loyola High School). Richard A. Gleeson, S.J. served as the first Jesuit President.

Rapid growth prompted the Jesuits to seek a new campus on Venice Boulevard in 1917; with this move, the name of the school was changed back to St. Vincent's College. In 1918 the name was once again changed to Loyola College of Los Angeles. Graduate instruction began in 1920 with the foundation of a separate law school. The school relocated under then-President, Joseph A. Sullivan, S.J., to the present Westchester campus in 1929, and achieved university status in 1930 becoming Loyola University of Los Angeles. Loyola Law School did not move with the rest of the university, but remains to this day in a location just west of downtown Los Angeles. The current law school campus was designed by Frank Gehry. The formation of a graduate division occurred in June 1950, although the graduate work had formed an integral part of the Teacher Education Program during the preceding two years. Loyola University continued to be an all-male school until its merger with Marymount College in 1973.

In separate, though parallel developments, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary began teaching local young women in 1923. In 1933 Marymount Junior College opened as an all-women's school in the Westwood district of Los Angeles. The school became Marymount College of Los Angeles when it started awarding bachelor's degrees in 1948, and moved to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 1960.

In 1967 Sr. Raymunde McKay, R.S.H.M., President of Marymount College had extended an invitation to Sr. Mary Felix Montgomery, C.S.J., General Superior of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, to join in their affiliation with Loyola University of Los Angeles. In 1968 the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange partnered in the governing and staffing of Marymount College—it was then that Marymount College moved to the Westchester campus of Loyola University as an autonomous institution.

Simultaneously St. Joseph College of Orange, a four year liberal arts college for women religious sponsored by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Orange, began an affiliation with Marymount College. It became one of two branch campuses of Marymount College. In 1970 St. Joseph College of Orange was renamed Marymount College of Orange. It remained operated by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange and ceased to offer undergraduate degrees. College courses were offered to men and women during the summers. Both campuses of Marymount College remained all-female until the 1973 merger with Loyola University.

In 1970, the Student Governments of Loyola University (ASLU—Associated Students of Loyola University) and Marymount College (ASMC—Associated Students of Marymount College) joined to form the Associated Students of Loyola and Marymount (ASLM).

After five years of sharing faculties and facilities, Loyola University and Marymount College merged and formed Loyola Marymount University in 1973. Through this union, the expanded university maintained the century-old mission of Catholic higher education in Los Angeles. At this time, ASLM became known as the Associated Students of Loyola Marymount University (ASLMU).

Marymount College's four-year program subsequently separated from its two-year program. The Marymount two-year program remained incorporated as a separate institution and received accreditation as such in 1971. Marymount College, Palos Verdes currently operates in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.

With the merger of Loyola University and Marymount College in 1973, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange joined the Society of Jesus and the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary as one of the sponsoring religious communities of Loyola Marymount University. Marymount College of Orange was renamed the Orange Campus of Loyola Marymount University. The Orange Campus offered continuing education and summer courses to men and women through the 1980s.

In articulating a vision for this unique collegiate enterprise, the Board of Trustees turned to the history of the four-century old Jesuit educational philosophy, as well as to the history and traditions of the Marymount and St. Joseph's Sisters. They also recognized the riches of a variety of religious traditions represented among the dedicated faculty and staff, which complement and enhance the school's heritage of Catholic values.

During the summer, the LMU campus plays host to a large number of precocious children. It is the primary West Coast site for the Center for Talented Youth summer program operated by Johns Hopkins University.

List of University Presidents beginning with St. Vincents College in 1865.

[edit] Campus

View of Bluff

Xavier Hall

LMU sits atop a bluff of 150 acres (0.61 km²) in the Westchester area of West Los Angeles located in the Del Rey Hills. The original 99 acres were donated to the university by Harry Culver. Xavier Hall, named for St. Francis Xavier, S.J., a companion of St. Ignatius of Loyola, S.J., and St. Robert's Hall, named for St. Robert Bellarmine, S.J., a cardinal and Doctor of the Church, were the first two buildings to be built on the current Westchester Campus. Following their completion in 1929, Xavier Hall housed both the Jesuit Faculty and the students at the time while St. Robert's Hall served as the academic and administrative building.

Sacred Heart Chapel and the Regents Bell Tower were the next non-residential structures to be built on the campus (1953-1955). The Malone Student Center, named for Rev. Lorenzo M. Malone, S.J., an alumnus of the university and former Dean of Students and Treasurer of the University, was completed in 1958 and renovated in 1996. LMU now houses 36 academic, athletic, administrative, and event facilities as well 12 on-campus residence halls (dormitory and suite models) and six on-campus apartment complexes.

The campus also houses two large open grass areas not reserved for athletic play. Both Alumni Mall and Sunken Gardens provide aesthetically pleasing scenery to the campus that is already laden with views of the entire Los Angeles Basin, Marina del Rey, Playa del Rey, and the Pacific Ocean.

University Hall

Sculpture Gardens

The university's recent acquisition of University Hall has brought to the campus a new entrance as well as much needed office and classroom space. University Hall is a facility unique to any academic institution, in that it was originally constructed for Hughes Aircraft as their world headquarters, and converted from an exclusively corporate facility, to a building thriving with academic life. Loyola Marymount University acquired the 1,000,000-square-foot (93,000 m²) building in January 2000 from Raytheon, which bought Hughes Aircraft. LMU completed the interior remodel of approximately 250,000 square feet (23,000 m²) in April of 2001. The building itself, which houses the university's Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, is constructed of steel and concrete, and is divided into seven separate structures above ground. University Hall has over 500,000 square feet (46,000 m²) of floor space, and contains over 1,000 parking spaces in 3 underground levels. The 70,000 square feet (6,500 m²) of atrium space has, and will continue to be the venue for many LMU events.

The Princeton Review has recently ranked LMU as having the 7th most beautiful campus in America. ^[2]. CampusSqueeze college e-zine ranked LMU as having the 3rd most beautiful campus in America.^[3]

[edit] Academics

Loyola Law School

In addition to being the parent school of Loyola Law School in Downtown Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount is also the home to six colleges and schools. LMU also offers an Air Force ROTC program, an Honors Program in which the students have a different core curriculum, and several year-long, semester, and summer study abroad programs across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Admission to LMU is competitive. Students from every U.S. state attend LMU. Some of the recent honors received by LMU are:

Named among the “25 cutting edge schools with an eye toward the future” Kaplan’s “You Are Here” College Guide, 2008
Included in “Best 366 Colleges,” “Best Colleges in the West” and “10 Most Beautiful Campuses” Princeton Review, 2008
Ranked 4th in “Best Universities With Master’s Program in the West” U.S. News & World Report, 2008
BusinessWeek magazine, 2007 Entrepreneurship program named among top 10 in the nation Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine, 2007
Named a “top producer” of Fulbright awardees, 2006–07 Institute of International Education
Named “Hottest for Hispanics” Newsweek/Kaplan’s “How to Get into College” Guide, 2006

[edit] Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts

The Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts includes twenty-five undergraduate programs of study as well as five graduate programs of study. It embodies the wider University goals of liberal education, which is the heart of the University's core curriculum for all undergraduates. The College's programs in the humanities and social sciences provide the cultural background and intellectual discipline characteristic of the liberally educated. In addition to a shared concern for ethical values, these programs develop the skills of communication, analysis, and problem-solving universally required to function well in today's diverse and inter-connected world. The college is named for the great Jesuit scholar, St. Robert Cardinal Bellarmine, S.J., a cardinal and Doctor of the Church.

[edit] College of Communication and Fine Arts

The College of Communication and Fine Arts offers majors in Art History, Communication Studies, Dance, Music, Studio Arts, and Theatre Arts as well as a graduate program in Marital and Family Therapy. The Department of Music has long been known for its outstanding choral organizations. Two choruses provide singing opportunities for a broad cross section of the university community. Promoting the university's long tradition, the 100-voice Concert Choir presents music for mixed chorus, and women's chorus. The smaller, more advanced Consort Singers presents varying styles of choral music and frequently appears in the Los Angeles area as the ambassador group for the university. It is also the parent college of Loyola Marymount's award winning Debate Team. The Debate Team frequently finishes in top positions in both national and international tournaments. The current dean of the College of Communication and Fine Arts is Barbara Busse.

[edit] College of Business Administration

Hilton Center for Business

The College of Business Administration was started to assist inquisitive minds in learning more about the effective principles and practice of business through foundation building, undergraduate programs, and flexible graduate programs for advancing professionals. Along with helping students understand the basic tenets of the business world, the college's world-class faculty and staff prepares individuals to become good corporate citizens by educating the whole person and exposing students to a broad base of ethical and moral values that is essential in today's business environment. It is home to eight undergraduate programs of study as well as an MBA program for graduate studies.

[edit] Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering

The Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering, sees its purpose to be the education of principled leaders. As new technologies and scientific breakthroughs emerge, LMU introduces curricular offerings that equip future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers with the integrated and cross-disciplinary skills they need to succeed in the global marketplace. It contains thirteen undergraduate programs of study as well as six graduate programs.

[edit] School of Education

Edward T. Foley Center

The School of Education at Loyola Marymount has four undergraduate programs of study (Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Bilingual Education, and Special Education). A student wishing to receive their credential upon graduation majors in any other program and applies to one of the four undergraduate education minors during their sophomore year. Many students seeking a credential in Elementary Education major in the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts' Liberal Studies program, which is designed to educate one in the various arts and letters they will be teaching children. The School of Education also offers nine graduate programs including a Doctorate in Education...

[edit] School of Film and Television

Among the best in the area, LMU's School of Film and Television offers undergraduate programs in Animation, Film Production, Recording Arts, Screenwriting, and Television Production. The school also offers graduate programs in Film Production, Television Production, and Screenwriting.

Under the guidance of Dean Teri Schwartz, the Television program at LMU is in the process of being phased out. The Film and Television majors are being combined into a Production Major.

[edit] Organization

The governing body of Loyola Marymount is the school's independent Board of trustees, which is headed by a Chairman. The University's executive officer is the President. The Bylaws of the University state that the President must be a Jesuit. The President is assisted by the Chancellor, Assistant to the President, and Director Internal Audit. The Vice President for Mission and Ministry (under whom are the Office of Campus Ministry and the Center for Ignatian Spirituality) and the Vice President for Intercultural Affairs are also member of the President's Office. The President, Senior Vice President & Chief Academic Officer (under whom are the Deans of the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, College of Business Administration, College of Communication and Fine Arts, Seaver College of Science and Engineering, School of Education, School of Film and Television, and University Libraries), Senior Vice President for Administration, Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs, Senior Vice President for University Relations, and Senior Vice President Fritz B. Burns Dean of Loyola Law School make up the University Cabinet. The Jesuit Community is headed by a Rector who serves as the ecclesial superior of the university, serving a six-year term.

[edit] Sponsoring religious orders

LMU is sponsored primarily by three religious orders that have long been associated with education, the Society of Jesus, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, and the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Orange. Although, other Religious Orders such as the Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Carmelites) and the Sisters of Saint Louis also have members employed on campus.

[edit] Society of Jesus

The Jesuit Community of LMU is the largest in the California Province of the Society of Jesus. The campus' Jesuits were housed in Xavier Hall until the recent completion of the new Jesuit Community Complex. LMU is home to 51 Jesuits (2006-2007 academic school year) holding various positions in administrative, staff, and faculty positions throughout the university. The LMU Jesuits also started and run Loyola productions, a non-profit creative media company that builds on the 450 year old Jesuit tradition of effective involvement in the communication arts.

[edit] Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary

The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary also house several religious sisters on campus. The Marymount sisters, like the Jesuit priests, hold various faculty, staff, and administrative positions throughout the university. They also run the Marymount Institute for Faith, Culture, and the Arts which attempts to preserve the transformative educational tradition of the Religious of the Sacred Heat of Mary and promotes a dialogue between faith and culture as expressed in fine, performing, literary and communication arts.

[edit] Sisters of Saint Joseph of Orange

Like the Jesuits and Marymount Sisters, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Orange play a great role in preserving the Roman Catholic identity of the school. Several sisters of the order reside either on campus or in the surrounding community, working in administrative, staff, and faculty roles.

[edit] Campus ministry

Sacred Heart Chapel

As old as the University, the Division of Campus Ministry was originally titled University Chaplain, this division became known as Campus Ministry in 1973 with a stipulation that the Director would be a Jesuit. By 1986 this requirement was waived when Sr. Mary Margaret ("Peg") Dolan, R.S.H.M. became the Director.

See: Loyola Marymount University, Campus Ministry

[edit] Mission Statement

Loyola Marymount University declares its mission and purpose to be the following: the service of faith and the promotion of justice, the encouragement of learning, and the education of the whole person. Being rooted in Jesuit tradition, Loyola Marymount University follows in their strong dedication to education. A committee on campus meets regularly to analyze the campus' overall strengths and weaknesses in fulfilling this mission statement.

[edit] Athletics

Main article: Loyola Marymount Lions

Athletic teams at Loyola Marymount are known as Lions; the school's primary athletic affiliation is with the West Coast Conference. While LMU has had success in several sports, it is probably best remembered for its men's basketball teams between 1985 and 1990, when Paul Westhead coached arguably the most entertaining college basketball teams in history. To this day, LMU games occupy the top five spots in the list of highest-scoring NCAA Division I basketball games.

Especially well-remembered was the 1990 team, led by Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble until tragedy struck in the WCC tournament. Gathers collapsed during a game and died due to a previously diagnosed heart condition. Playing for their fallen teammate, the Lions advanced to the Elite Eight (regional final) of the NCAA tournament before falling to eventual champions UNLV.

The primary indoor athletic facility is Gersten Pavilion.

Texas Rangers relief pitcher C. J. Wilson attended and pitched at Loyola Marymount in 2001.

The (06-07) softball team was the only team to knock UCLA out of the NCAA Div I tournament before the Women's College World Series. UCLA had made it to the Women's College World Series every year and have never lost to Loyola Marymount. Behind the arm of LMU at the time Junior Tiffany Pagano, the Lions defeated UCLA 4-2 in a Regional elimination game AT Westwood to knock off the Bruins. This marked the biggest win in history for the LMU softball program.

[edit] Student government

ASLMU, The Associated Students of Loyola Marymount University, is the functioning student government. The government body is comprised of an Executive Branch, composed of the Management Team and Cabinet Departments; a Legislative Branch, composted of the Senate; and a Judicial Branch, composed of the Judicial Committee. The only elected positions are those of the President, Vice President and the Senate. Unlike the senators, the President and Vice President have a limited term of two (2) years^[4].

[edit] Student media

Loyola Marymount has a rich history of student created and directed media. As a private institution, LMU and its various student media outlets have a tenuous relationship based on disagreements in regards to First Amendment rights, access difficulties, and privacy conerns.

[edit] Los Angeles Loyolan newspaper

The Los Angeles Loyolan newspaper has been published for over 80 years. It was originally titled "The Cinder" for the cinders kicked up by the trains passing the downtown campus of St. Vincent's College. The Loyolan has recently moved from its long standing weekly Wednesday publication schedule to a twice a week - Monday and Thursday - schedule. The Loyolan is supported by its advertising department which has historically paid from 80% to 100% of the cost of publication. The Loyolan's regular sections include "News", "Opinions", "Sports", "Arts & Entertainment", and "Classified Ads".

In 2005, the paper won the Columbia Scholastic Press Association award for "Best Four-Year Weekly Tabloid."

[edit] Tower Yearbook

Over the years, the Loyola University Los Angeles yearbook was known by several titles including the Lair Annual. After the merger the university began publishing the annual Tower Yearbook which is financed through a mandatory annual student yearbook fee (collected along with tuition).

The student-run yearbook at Loyola Marymount University was named "Best in Show" at the 85th Annual National College Media Conference in St. Louis, Mo. on Oct 30. "The Tower" took first place in the "Yearbook 300-Plus" category among other prestigious colleges from around the nation. The 2006 yearbook was honored for its unique design and its "re: 2006" theme. Director of Student Media, Tom Nelson, said "Editor in Chief Ashlee Goodwin and the entire Tower staff put an incredible amount of effort into the 2006 yearbook, which was not only the best but the largest ever produced at Loyola Marymount University."

[edit] KXLU FM 88.9/ KLMU AM

The university boasts both an AM/closed circuit and FM radio station. KXLU has an annual fundraising drive known as "fundrazor" which supports the station's ongoing operation. The station has a large following in the Los Angeles area. A variety of "indie" and international music as well as rock and jazz are played. KXLU is also the 'flagship' station for LMU athletics featuring every Lions Men's basketball game each season. KLMU is the other radio station on LMU's campus, which can also be streamed online for listeners across the country. KLMU offers undergraduates an opportunity to host their own radio shows. Samuel J. Marra and Tommy Duffy, both prominent members of the LMU student body, host such a show on a weekly basis. With their smooth voices and witty remarks, their fanbase stretches far beyond the greater Los Angeles area. KLMU continues to set the standard for excellent student-body radio stations among U.S. collegiate institutions

[edit] The Tangent

The Tangent was published monthly by the Loyolan staff as a lifestyle supplement to the Loyolan's regular fair. The Tangent was founded in 2001.

A smaller section of The Tangent appeared in each issue, while the monthly ones were produced as a supplemental, tabloid newsletter.

The The Tangent was indefinitely suspended in February 2007, in the wake of a controversial article written in February. The article listed Black History Month as one of the "20 Things That Will Kill You This Month". Clearly, the administration lacked a sense of humor.

The Tangent has subsequently been replaced by "the Bluff," which is a more tame equivalent. "The Bluff" appears irregularly.

[edit] ROAR Network

ROAR Network is the newest student media on-campus. It provides a forum for student produced programming to be broadcast both via the on-campus cable TV system and, eventually, via the local cable access system(s). ROAR Network is the only TV Station made for, and run by students on the LMU campus. The station provides student produced programming every two weeks, with its primetime block from 10:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. every night. Current and previous episodes are also available for viewing and download online at ROAR Network's Website

[edit] Center for Service and Action

Unique to Loyola Marymount is its Center for Service and Action (CSA). Dedicated to fostering the Jesuit principles of the service of faith and promotion of justice, CSA offer students opportunities to serve the campus and surrounding communities. The mission of CSA is to educate and form men and women with and for others, especially with and for the disadvantaged and the oppressed. Through direct personal contact between students and the marginalized in service experiences, CSA fosters a solidarity with the poor that will lead to intellectual inquiry, moral reflection and social action.

The Center for Service and Action resulted in LMU being awarded the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction, the highest federal recognition a school can receive for civil service. ^[5]

One of the many opportunities provided by CSA to students looking to do service work is the Alternative Break Program. LMU's Alternative Breaks program promotes service and cultural exchange on the local, national, and international level through hands-on, community-based learning. Students are immersed in diverse contexts throughout the world with concrete challenges that heighten social awareness and inspire lifelong social action.

[edit] Service organizations

CSA also oversees LMU's student service organizations. The seven service organizations work to help the university and surrounding community of Los Angeles.

Each Service Organization has its own unique mission, history, charism and organizational structure. The members of these organizations make themselves available for on-campus service as well as on-going commitments to serve at specific non-profit agencies in Southern California. Each organization has a moderator and a chaplain (though in some of the organizations the same priest or woman religious seves as both moderator and chaplain).

The Center for Service and Action works with the service organizations in fostering on-campus service and community service as well as reflecting upon their experience of service. CSA coordinates communication between the leadership of these organizations, the Service Organization Council. CSA also coordinates the distribution of the On-Campus Service Requests.

The organizations and their respective dates of founding are Crimson Circle (1929), Belles (1960), Gryphon Circle (1968), Ignatians (1981), Sursum Corda (1992), Marians (2003), and Magis (2003).

[edit] Campus Greek life

LMU is also home to a number of campus Greek Organizations. The campus fraternities are as follows: Alpha Delta Gamma (1952), Sigma Chi (1991), Sigma Phi Epsilon (1996), Sigma Lambda Beta (1999), Lambda Chi Alpha (2002), and Beta Theta Pi (2005). The campus sororities are as follows: Alpha Phi (1976), Delta Gamma (1981), Delta Zeta (1986), Chi Delta Theta (1997), Kappa Alpha Theta (1999), Delta Sigma Theta (2000), Sigma Lambda Gamma (2000), Pi Beta Phi (2002), Delta Delta Delta (2005), and Sigma Gamma Rho (2006).

[edit] Notable alumni

Main article: List of Loyola Marymount University people

[edit] Noted professors