Word 49: Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Chicago is a private co-educational religious-affiliated university established in Chicago in 1870 as Saint Ignatius College. It was founded by the Roman Catholic religious order of the Society of Jesus and bears the name of the Jesuit patron, Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Loyola is one of twenty-eight member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and, with its current enrollment of more than 15,000 students, is one of the largest Jesuit Universities in the United States. [4] Loyola is considered one of the 262 "national universities" by US News & World Report, with a ranking of 112.[5].

Beginnings and expansions

Founded in 1870 as the St Ignatius College on Chicago's West Side. In 1908 the School of Law was established as the first of the professional programs. St Ignatius College changed its name to Loyola University in 1909, while also adding the Stritch School of Medicine. 1923 saw the affiliation of the Chicago College of Dental Surgery with Loyola University, later to be known as Loyola University School of Dentistry (no longer open). In 1934 West Baden College affiliates itself with Loyola University, later to be known as the Bellarmine School of Theology then the Jesuit School of Theology in Chicago. Loyola University established the School of Nursing in 1935, the first fully accredited collegiate school of nursing in the state of Illinois. Loyola then opened the Rome Center for Liberal Arts in 1962, the first American university sponsored program in Rome. 1969 saw the establishment of the School of Education and the opening of the Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood. In 1979 the School of Nursing is renamed the Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing. The most recent expansion was the 1991 acquisition of neighboring Mundelein College from the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Main campuses

Loyola University is anchored at the Lake Shore Campus (on the shore of Lake Michigan) in Rogers Park, the northernmost neighborhood of the city of Chicago. Loyola has developed a ten year master plan that is designed to revitalize the community by adding an updated arts center as well as a retail district called "Loyola Station" near the CTA's Loyola 'L' stop. Parts of this plan are in doubt as they rely on public tax money, and Article 10 of the Illinois Constitution prohibits any public money for any reason to a religious institution. Among many others, the science departments are located on this campus. Loyola also has a Water Tower Campus in downtown Chicago on the Magnificent Mile of North Michigan Avenue, steps away from such landmarks as the Water Tower (one of the few structures to survive the Great Chicago Fire) and the John Hancock Center (one of the tallest buildings in the United States). The School of Business Administration, School of Social Work, and the Law School are located at the Water Tower Campus (previously Lewis Towers), and many other classes are held at this campus.

Chicago's Jesuit university also boasts a campus in Rome, Italy. Loyola University Chicago Rome Center was established in 1962 on the site of the 1960 Summer Olympics grounds. It moved to several locations in Rome until finally settling in Monte Mario on the Via Massimi, one of the most affluent districts of the Italian capital. The campus offers a full academic year for Chicago-based Loyola University students wishing to study abroad.

Loyola University Chicago has a medical school, the Stritch School of Medicine, and a hospital and medical center associated with them, all located on a campus in Maywood, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. The former Mundelein College is located just south of the Lake Shore Campus. The former Niles campus no longer exists.

Religious education

Religious education is still one of Loyola University's hallmarks as home to Saint Joseph College Seminary as well as the Jesuit First Studies program.

Loyola's First Studies Program is one of three in the country, with Fordham University and Saint Louis University housing the other two. During this three year period, Jesuit Scholastics and Brothers generally study philosophy and some theology. First Studies is one part of an eleven-year formation process toward the Jesuit priesthood. This program is administered by the Chicago Province Society of Jesus.

Saint Joseph College Seminary serves the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago and provides vocational training to candidates of diocesan priesthood. Loyola University also provides rigorous religious education for those seeking careers in lay ministry with the Loyola University Pastoral Institute as well as degree opportunities in interdisciplinary Catholic studies.

Buildings

Lake Shore Campus

Alumni Gym

Arrupe House

Athletic Field & Stevens Building

Campion Hall & St. Joseph Seminary

Centennial Forum Student Union

Coffey Hall

Creighton Hall

Crown Center

Cudahy Library

Cudahy Science Hall

Dumbach Hall (Formerly "Loyola Academy")

Fairfield Hall

Fine Arts / Root Building

Fine Arts Annex

Flanner Hall

Fordham Hall

George Halas, Jr. Sports Center

Georgetown Hall

Gonzaga Hall

Granada Center (Part of Fordham Hall, formerly the site of the Granada Theatre)

Holy Cross Hall

Information Commons (Building currently under construction)

Loyola University Jesuit Residence

Madonna Della Strada Chapel

Martin D'Arcy Museum of Art (Now located at Lewis Towers ,Water Tower Campus under the name Loyola University Museum of Art)

Marquette Hall

Mertz Hall

Mundelein Center (Formerly "Skyscraper Building", "Mundelein College")

Piper Hall

The Quinn Quadrangle

The Quinlan Life & Science Center

Regis Hall

Rockhurst Hall

Santa Clara Hall

Seattle Hall

Simpson Living-Learning Center

Sullivan Center for Student Services (Formerly "Sullivan Science Library")

Wright Hall (BVM Residence)

The Yellow House

Xavier Hall

Water Tower Campus

25 E. Pearson Loyola Law Center

Rev. Raymond C. Baumhart, S.J. Residence Hall and Terry Student Center

The Clare (Building currently under construction)

Lewis Towers (Also houses "Loyola University Museum of Art")

Maguire Hall

Student Life

Sports

Lou Wolf is the mascot for the university. He was inspired by the coat-of-arms of St Ignatius of Loyola, from whom Loyola derives its name, which depicts two wolves standing over a kettle. He is ever-present at Loyola's basketball games, encouraging fans to show their support for the Ramblers.

Greek Life

Loyola University Chicago also houses Greek life on its Lake Shore Campus. These Greek organizations include the social fraternities Sigma Pi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Tau Kappa Epsilon, and Alpha Delta Gamma;as well as the social sororities Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Phi Sigma Sigma and Kappa Kappa Gamma. Alpha Delta Gamma remains the only private school-sanctioned fraternity house on campus. U.S. News & World Report

Loyola is also home to the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) co-ed fraternity Alpha Psi Lambda, and sororities Gamma Phi Omega (The first Latina-oriented sorority at Loyola) and Sigma Lambda Gamma (the largest Latina-oriented sorority in the U.S.) as well as several co-ed business fraternities such as Alpha Kappa Psi, Delta Sigma Pi, Kappa Psi, and Sigma Tau Delta. Loyola also has a co-ed service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega.

Notable alumni