Seattle University Spectator
January 13, 2010
http://www.su-spectator.com/features/10-from-10-the-defining-stories-at-seattle-university-in-the-last-decade-1.1010727L
SEATTLE (WA) -- A lot can happen in 10 years, and as we move into the new decade, it's worth taking a look back at the 2000s, which for Seattle University were a time of huge growth and change and saw countless successes and failures. Reflection lets us learn from our mistakes and take pride in our accomplishments, and this retrospective glimpse of the last 10 years at Seattle U is intended to let readers do just that: reflect.
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| The Oct. 20 press conference was one of many efforts to promote Seattle U's return to Division I. Photo by Braden VanDragt |
1. Return to Division I
May 11, 2007 held a surprise for many at Seattle University: local newspapers were reporting Seattle U would be reentering Division I athletics beginning as soon as the 2008-2009 school year.
Later that day, President Stephen Sundborg, S.J. sent an e-mail to the Seattle U community apologizing for being "scooped" by the newspapers and announcing the plan to leave Division II for D-I.
Since then, the term Division I—or one of its iterations—has appeared in every section of this newspaper in all sorts of stories.
These stories tell of everything from controversy and dissent over the move to new student spirit groups and games at KeyArena.
And already, as the Redhawks continue in the transition playing as independent teams, the D-I move is achieving at least one goal officials had: garnering attention for this growing university in the middle of Seattle.
Whether it has been a scapegoat or a welcome change, the Division I athletic transition is Seattle University's defining story of the decade.
Will Seattle U basketball ever have the stature of Gonzaga University? Who knows? But the story of Division I will continue to significantly shape Seattle University in the next decade, too.
2. Capital Campaign
Despite a devastating recession, Seattle University's Capital Campaign "For the Difference We Make" wrapped up Sept. 10, 2009 far exceeding its goal.
The university was aiming for $150 million and finished with $169 million from 21,000 donors, 14,000 of whom were first-time donors to Seattle U.
The Capital Campaign's stunning success is a sign that others are recognizing the university's drive and achievements. The campaign raised more than both of Seattle U's previous two, which brought in $27 million and $67 million.
While many things are needed to make a university premier, as is Seattle U's vision, a key ingredient that must not be overlooked is money.
The success of the campaign will aid students with scholarships, help improve academic programs, build state-of-the-art new facilities and contribute to the university's operating budget and Jesuit Catholic identity.
While the effects of the fundraising are only just being felt by current students, Seattle University's Capital Campaign is the second-ranking story of the decade for what it promises to deliver in the future: a premier, independent university that alumni will be proud to call their alma mater.
3. Campus expansion
Every college campus is constantly striving to grow and expand, but the 2000s for Seattle University were a time of huge expansion. When the decade began, there was no Student Center and no Sky Bridge. Chardin Hall was the Bessie Burton Sullivan Skilled Nursing Residence, Xavier Hall had yet to be named the global community hall and the Lemieux Library was even then in desperate need of renovation. Much of what is now the Seattle U campus in the early '00s was just a vision or a dream, but as we move into the new decade, those dreams are becoming realities. The university is raising its profile with every new building, but that brings more students and the rise of a housing crunch the likes of which Seattle U has never seen. Hopefully by 2020, we'll have increased administrative, educational and housing facilities to be proud of all around our campus and its surrounding neighborhood.
4. Focus on sustainability
Though gardening superstar Ciscoe Morris left Seattle University in 2002, he left an indelible mark on the way the campus's grounds were shaped. Seattle U is a campus that cares about sustainability, with meticulously maintained pesticide-free gardens beautifying every corner of the campus. It's also a forerunner in the recent composting movement around Seattle, and like its sister school Gonzaga University has already done, Seattle U has been striving for years to "ban the bottle." Sustainability is trendy nowadays, sure, but Seattle U has gone beyond pandering to global trends by making its green existence a foundational part of its institutional mission.
5. Recession and budget cuts
The recent recession impacted everyone, but perhaps what is most remarkable is how well the burden was handled at Seattle University. By cutting costs by 5 percent across the board in all departments, the university avoided unnecessary layoffs and kept its yearly tuition increase for the 2009-2010 school year almost startlingly low (just more than 3 percent). Its endowment took a hit, of course, but compared to the University of Washington, whose students were saddled with a 7 percent tuition increase in the fall, and whose endowment eroded with the fall of the economy, Seattle U pulled through the roughest moments of the recession as admirably as any institution of higher education could hope to.
6. Bessie Burton Sullivan becomes Chardin
At a university that prides itself in teaching social justice and putting it into practice, the decision to close Bessie Burton Sullivan, a skilled nursing facility on campus housing the elderly, was one many in the community wouldn't let pass without a fight.
The controversial decision, announced Jan. 8, 2007 in an e-mail from President Stephen Sundborg, S.J. sparked anger, debate and even a protest among the Seattle University community.
Bessie Burton had 139 beds for elderly who needed daily assistance. It employed nearly 200 people.
But university officials felt continual growth had forced them to prioritize needed classroom, office and housing space over running the skilled nursing facility.
"Ultimately, our core mission and responsibility is to provide students with a first-rate educational experience and that is what makes the decision to close Bessie Burton necessary," Sundborg wrote at the time.
Bessie Burton Sullivan then became Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J. Hall, better known as Chardin.
Even after students moved in, Chardin continued to be noteworthy. It was widely said to be haunted, students initially complained that it lacked community, backed up pipes flooded some students' rooms in feces and resident assistants led some students in unique programs, like a night spent sleeping in boxes on Logan Field.
7. Increased LGBTQ awareness
In an October 2000 issue of The Spectator, the editorial board called out the university's administration for discriminating against homosexual faculty and staff.
"Faculty and staff members who are homosexual are treated as second class citizens by our university," the editorial reads. "The university itself, at the highest levels, discriminates against these members of our community."
Over the last 10 years, Seattle University as an institution has grown to be more accepting of homosexual faculty and staff as well as students. Through growth of student groups like the Triangle Club, the queer population definitely has a home at Seattle U. The club's drag show, started in 2007, has proven to be one of the best-attended on campus events, and the whole environment helps Seattle U fit in even better in the Capitol Hill community.
8. Seattle U hosts Tent City
In 2005, Seattle University brought the Jesuit value of social justice to light in a big way through the hosting of "Tent City" on the campus tennis courts. Tent city is a homeless encampment that floats around Seattle wherever it can find space, and Seattle U became the first university in the country to host a homeless encampment of any kind on its campus.
Not only was Tent City at Seattle U great for the homeless who had a place to call home for a month, it was also great for students who were able to expand their minds and education through visits and volunteering at the Tent City. Almost 600 students, faculty and staff made educational visits to the city, and nearly 700 people got hands on experience volunteering there.
9. Jesuit sexual abuse litigation
Seattle University became entangled in three separate sexual abuse scandals in the last decade, one of which has yet to be resolved.
Tony Harris, S.J., who served as vice president of Mission and Ministry, resigned in October 2006 after allegations that he sexually harassed a trainee priest in the 1990s surfaced.
That week Seattle U also announced that a former professor who was already deceased, Englebert Axer, S.J., had molested a boy in California in 1956.
In 2007, several men filed a lawsuit against Seattle U and the Jesuit order claiming sexual abuse by Michael Toulouse, S.J., who taught at the school from 1950 to 1976. The suit also claimed officials within the order and at Seattle U knew of the abuse but failed to stop it. One victim said Toulouse had molested him in the Jesuit residence on campus in 1968.
In 2005, President Stephen Sundborg, S.J.'s refusal to testify at a deposition about private meetings he had with James Poole, S.J., a priest accused of raping or molesting several girls, drew media attention as well.
Most recently, Sundborg was named as a defendant in a lawsuit alleging he and other leaders of the Oregon Province of Jesuits knew of abusive priests but allowed them to remain in ministry. By December 2009, the number of victims alleging abuse in the suit topped 500, and the Oregon Province—which includes Jesuits in Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho and Alaska—had filed for bankruptcy.
10. Facebook and parties
This decade brought the Internet into our lives in a major way, and with the growth of social networking sites like Facebook, the line between what's public and private in a student's life began to get blurry very quickly.
In 2008 there were two instances of the administration getting involved with student's off-campus partying, partially due to Facebook. In May, Glenn Butterworth, S.J., an assistant to the dean of students, contacted students planning a party and threatened disciplinary action. He had found out that they were hosting a "douchebag party" through Facebook, which according to Butterworth showed "offensive gender biases" and was against the Student Code of Conduct. Butterworth's threats made the students cancel the party.
The school also got involved when members of the softball team hosted a "c**t hunt," a party where girls dressed as animals and boys as hunters. The players were put through the conduct system, and the school hosted several events dealing with the issues surrounding themed parties.
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