President Rev. Brian Linnane addressed a number of questions on WYPR’s “Midday on Higher Education” series on Monday, Feb. 11. Among other topics, Linnane spoke most potently on Jesuit values, the challenge of affording higher education, the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic church, and how Loyola’s students are affected by each.
“Midday on Higher Education” is a series that highlights the biggest challenges facing colleges and universities in Maryland, as told by their presidents. Additionally, the series is meant to showcase each school’s initiatives that help their students connect with the surrounding area in which they live.
Linnane discussed the importance of reflection, a major value in the Jesuit tradition, when it comes to helping students use their education to benefit those in the Baltimore area who need it most. “Why am I privileged the way that I am to receive this type of an education?” said Linnane in response to questions which he encourages the student body to consider when reflecting on their education. “You begin to think about how [your] decisions, [your] political decisions, affect those who are in the margins of society.”
Linnane detailed a number of programs established to help students serve those in-need and understand those who are different. He also listed the university’s diversity requirement, meant to help students better understand an underrepresented culture, Loyola’s international programs which two-thirds of the junior class benefit from each year, and the university’s employment of 3,000 people in the Baltimore area as ways that help make the student body more open-minded and understanding.
Referred to as the “sticker price,” charging $65,000 per year for a Loyola education may seem like more work than it is worth, considering a majority of students do not pay the total price. When faced with the option to lower the price, thus decreasing the need to provide financial assistance, Linnane emphasized the importance of increasing diversity on campus and how those financial assists are necessary for encompassing a diverse student body. “When I came to Loyola, only 8% of the undergraduates were students of color. Now, it’s roughly 30%,” said Linnane— an increase that could not exist without the room for financial assistance.
Linnane also addressed the impact of the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church on students at Loyola. “I didn’t know how attentive our students were to this question,” said Linnane, referring to what the Catholic Church needs to do going forward in order to see a brighter future.
“There are always people who are going to behave inappropriately, behave horribly, and the thing is that those who are responsible for them need to be held accountable for that. I mean, I’ve said I can see giving someone a second chance, but not a fifth.”
In line with the Jesuit value of reflection, Linnane highlighted the importance of listening to the experiences of others and taking actions to make sure the negatives of the past are not repeated. He emphasized that this practice of reflection is not only necessary for the members of the Catholic Church, but also for Loyola’s student body as they progress in their Jesuit education.
Linnane’s full interview can be listened to here.
Featured Image: Courtesy of WYPR
