The Los Angeles
Loyola Marymount University December 6 1983
Volume ei lssue 11
President Merrifield performing a multitude of services through the years
Merrifield Announces Resignation
By MICHAEL M. RIVERO
Editor-In-Chief
Eoming as quite a shock to many,
University President Rev. Donald
P. Merrifield, S.J., announced to the
Board of Trustees late Monday that he
wished to step down from the presiden¬
cy, by this coming June, if possible, but
at the latest by September 1 , 1984.
Reading from a prepared letter, Mer-
ri field noted
ч“
the need tq redesign, the t
administrative structure and seek & new ^
tee consists of five trustees, as well as an
alumni representative, with Academic
Assembly Chair Virginia Merriam
representing the' faculty and ASLMU
President Alberta Brinson speaking for
students.
“I am confident that with some
diligence, quite excellent candidates will
be found from across the U.S. and,
perhaps, beyond,” Merrifield assured.
“I believe LMU offers a good deal of
challenge for the candidates and very
many attractive aspects besides the
weather and surroundings.”
Merrifield first entertained thoughts
of resignation “about a year ago” and
“spoke with Chairman of the Board Ar¬
cher eight or nine months ago about my
possible resignation . ’ ’•
“Archer urged me to change my
mind,” at that point, but Merrifield felt
strongly that “at this time in the Univer¬
sity’s history it is appropriate to bring in
new leadership.”
Two weeks ago Merrifield presented
his letter to the Executive Board of the
trustees and they discussed the problems
of continuity. The board suggested the
move from president to chancellor as an
answer to this problem. It was at this
point that Father Casassa agreed to step
down from the position of chfffttettofTo
(continued on page *0}
For MerrifielcTs Letter
& Biography
See Page 10
president for Loyola Marymount
University who will be able to focus his
attention on consolidating our gains and
on building even better academic pro¬
grams as well as continuing the develop¬
ment of all the supporting programs.”
He stated that for the past several
years he has given almost all of his atten¬
tion to external affairs and has left the
internal affairs of the University largely
to the executive vice president. The ad¬
ministrative complications brought
forth because of this shift in attention
have limited the access to the president
that the academic area should have.
As Merrifield read his statement,
Board of Trustees wat¬
ched and listened tentatively with looks
of concern and acceptance. Chairman of
the Board, Richard A. Archer, set the
tone of the remainder of the meeting
with his comment , ”
Г
guess t he fact that
change is inevitable best explains our
situation.”
Approaching the completion of 15
years of service as president, Merrifield
told The Loyolan after the announce¬
ment that “it seems obvious to me that
theneed for someone with new ideas” is
strong.
“At the invitation of the Board of
Trustees, 1 will accept the position of
chancellor to serve the new president in
the areas of public and commumly rela¬
tions and fund raising as he becomes ad¬
justed to his work here,” Merrifield ad¬
ded.
The search for a Jesuit to fill
/Мег
-
rifield’s position will begin at once under
the direction of a trustee search commit¬
tee chaired by Jesuit Proctor Rev.
Robert Caro, S.J.. The search commit-
By LAURA TRACY LAISON
Loyolan News Editor
During the late part of the summer,
Loyola Marymount University ac¬
quired 28.5 acres of land adjacent to the
university. This land better known as the
“bean field” will be the site for the
university’s new Leavey Campus.
Bill Wilson, Director of Facilities
Planning and Construction, stated that
the university is hoping to start conduc¬
tion on the land in 1986.
At the University Council meeting late
last month, Vice President of Finance
and Planning, John Pfaffinger unveiled
the latest and most comprehensive plan
for the Leavey campus to date.
The new addition, to be named after
Thomas and Dorothy Leavey, has
several plan options and the university is
expecting to consider several other alter¬
natives before committing themselves to
one construction plan.
Currently the University is still caught
up in the city’s “red tape” process of
changing the land’s zoning from “Rl”
— a single family building domain — to
a “university development” zone.
The Universily’s “program
statement” lists a definite course of ac¬
tion which prioritizes the order of
building construction. The placement of
the facilities has also been taken into
consideration to satisfy the needs of
neighbors, students and staff.
Ironically, the first consideration for
construction will not be on the Leavey
Campus, but will be a computer struc¬
ture for the computer science depart¬
ment that will complete the quad of
Pereira.
The second priority, and the one of in¬
terest to most students^ is the buildings
for housing. There will be four, two or
three story buildings.
With these new additions LMU will be
able to house 60 percent of its full-time,
undergraduate enrollment — a total of
2,100 living spaces. Half of these are
slated to be dormitories with the re¬
mainder being apartments.
The Conrad N. Hilton Business Ad-
minstration Center, also being located
on Leavey Campus, is presently 50 per¬
cent funded by donations and is ex¬
pected to total four to five million
dollars. The 40,000-square foot building
will allow for eight or nine new
classrooms.
The planned administration building
will have 22,000 square feet and will
house offices for the University presi¬
dent, provost, vice-presidents, public
relations, and room for the Board of
Trustees.
The recreation space provided by the
project will facilitate two functions. The
first being more recreation space for the
additional students housed on campus,
and the second, it will act as a noise buf¬
fer between the neighbors adjacent to
the campus and the dormitories and
parking areas. The community has
stated that they would much rather face
a field than a parking lot or dormitory.
The parking areas will be located fur¬
ther toward the center of campus and
adjacent to the business administration
(continued on page 6)
Existing LMU Campus
Hughes
Construction
Campus Expansion — LMU has purchased 28.5 acres of pro¬
perty adjacent to the campus from Hughes Aircraft Company.
It has been named the Leavey Campus in recognition of the
Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Foundation’s $2 million gift
toward its purchase. See related story about Hughes page 7.
