Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Bronx, New York Permit No. 7608 *" V" w Thursday March 15,19S4 Volume 66 University, New York Number 10 Joseph O'Hare, S.J. Named President by Mark Dillon winning journalist for America, a weekly Rev. Joseph Aloysius O'Hare, S.J., Jesuit opinion magazine. A highly respected editor-in-chief of America magazine, has commentator and lecturer on contemporary been unanimously elected by the Board of religious, social and political issues, he is a Trustees as the 31st president of the Univer- prolific writer with a special interest in sity. American and Philippine politics, civil rights, The 53-year-old New York-born Jesuit the modern papacy and issues of war and will succeed Rev. James C. Finlay, S.J., who peace. will retire on June 30 after completing a 12- "Father O'Hare comes to the presidency year tenure. of a university on the threshold of a critical At a press conference held at Lincoln period of change that calls for clarity of Center on Wednesday, O'Hare said he is vision, imaginative and forceful ideas, and challenged by the opportunity to lead For- the courage and will to carry them out," said dham in the '80s. Board Chairman Richard Bennett. "He is a "Fordham doesn't enjoy the national man of vigorous and sophisticated intellect status that it deserves," said O'Hare. "I've with a special gift of incisive expression and followed the University's progress with in- wit. His reputation for cool and balanced creasing interest over the past few months." judgement, good humor and generosity of The Jesuit editor considers the Univer- spirit is well known." sity's New York City location to be one of its O'Hare will give up writing his award- greatest strengths and its future tied in with winning weekly column in America when he the financial health of the city. He hopes to assumes office on July 1 of this year, while be able to "meet the challenge" of keeping outgoing President Finlay plans to take a students' educational costs at a level they can year's sabbatical. Finlay will study for six afford, so Fordham can serve its traditional months at the Jesuit School of Theology in clientele. O'Hare also see the University's Berkeley, California. After that he will spend Jesuit character as a positive factor which six months in Europe and the Middle East "Father O'Hare comes to the presidency of a enhances its liberal arts tradition. doing research in political science, the area in "The University can serve as a resource which he obtained a Doctorate. University on the threshold of a critical period center," O'Hare said concerning Fordham's Bennett, commenting on the character relationship with the surrounding local com- of the University when Finlay took office, of change that calls for clarity of vision, munity. He said the University can utilize its said, "Finlay's tenure has been a period of expertise, so that there will be increased in- recuperation from the fiscal, social and imaginative and forceful ideas, and the cour- teraction between itself and the community. academic turbulence of the 60s, a time that The new president was asked if,the required a steady hand at the helm while old age and will to carry them out." University has expressed interest in the status and new strengths were being consolidated." of Power Memorial Academy, a Christian A Philosopher's Background —Board Chairman Richard Bennett Brothers' High School adjacent to For- In contrast, O'Hare assumes the For- dham's Lincoln Center campus, which may dham presidency at a time of relative stability close in June due to high operating costs. and growth for the University. His column has been frequently cited by the aid to that country. O'Hare warned that Several Lincoln Center administrators have background is that of a philosopher. O'Hare Catholic Press Association as the best giving military aid "would increase the level speculated that it would be in the University's completed his doctoral dissertation on the original column appearing in a Catholic of violence" there because El Salvador's interest to acquire the building for a student philosophy of Hegel with Fordham magazine. Several of 0'Hare's editorials government had "proven incapable of con- dormitory. philosophy professor Rev. Quentin Lauer, have also been awarded CPA prizes. trolling the nation's military who, in too "It's one thing to be a helping neighbor, S.J. and was awarded a doctorate in O'Hare's column has been a forum for many instances, have used their firepower in another to be interfering," O'Hare respon- philosophy from Fordham in 1968. the discussion of many social, political and brutal and indiscriminate repression." ded. In 1972, O'Hare became associate editor economic issues. In 1980 he won the CPA's The new president said after the press A Hegel Scholar of America, a position he held for three years first place award for a column commenting conference that he will have to "balance" his O'Hare is a specialist in Hegelian until he was named editor-in-chief of the on the death of El Salvador Archbishop desire to speak out on issues with his duties as philosophy and has had a distinguished journal and president of its publishing com- Oscar Romero, The piece condemned the Fordham's top administrator. career as an educator and as an award- pany, America Press, Inc. Since then, his Carter Administration's request for military Board Chairman and Teacher O'Hare has considerable experience as a college administrator and as a teacher. He is directed the future America editor in the a member of the board of directors of school performance of A Midsummer's Georgetown University, the Ecumenical Night Dream. Commission of the New York Archdiocese "He's a hard worker, and I think his and of the boards of trustees of the Council "Challenged, Interested" appointment is great for the University," on Religion and International Affairs and the Lauer said. College of New Rochelle. He has also been a Vice President for Administration Rev. member of the board of trustees of Boston George McMahon, S.J, is another former College and Xavier University in Cincinnati said that he had no knowledge of any Regis teacher who had O'Hare as a pupil. "I and chairman of the board of LeMoyne by Dan Vlncelette think he's going to be an excellent spokesman "Patrick Ewing is coming to finish his problems of communication between ad- College. ministration and students. "There has for the University," McMahon said. "His From 1955 until 1958 and from 1968 un- senior year u. Fordham," said Rev. Joseph A. being editor of A tnerica has given him an un- O'Hare, S.J. in his first "official" announ- always been a rather candid exchange" at til 1972, he taught the philosophy of religion Fordham, O'Hare said. derstanding of a lot of major issues that face and Christian ethics at Ateneo de Manila cement as president of Fordham. all of us, both in Church and in society." Although the 53-year-old journalist and "1 am absolutely delighted with his ap- University. O'Hare also earned his bachelor's pointment," said current president James Rev. Charles M. Whelan, S.J., associate and master's degrees in the Philippines, educator was only joking at Wednesday's editor of America and professor of con- Lincoln Center press conference, it was ob- Finlay, S.J. "I wish him all the success in the studying at Berchmans College in Cebu City. world." stitutional law at Fordham Law School, is Visited Communist Countries vious that basketball was not his primary "very pleased" with O'Hare's appointment. The new president is not a stranger to O'Hare obtained firsthand experience of concern. "He's very intelligent and very articulate," Fordham. The son of a New York City Marx's interpretation of Hegelian ideas five "I feel challenged, interested, and en- said Whelan. "He should present Fordham mounted police officer and a public school years ago. thusiastic," said O'Hare. "I am very grateful very well both within and outside of the New teacher, O'Hare was raised in the Bronx, and In 1979, O'Hare was a member of the and very humbled by my appointment as York community." attended Regis High School. He entered the Interi'aith Mission of the Appeal of Con- president." Society of Jesus shortly after his graduation, United Student Government President science Foundation which visited religious The gregarious Editor-in-Chief of Danny Madden also expressed satisfaction and was ordained a priest in the Fordham and government officials in the Soviet America spoke for a half hour on Fordham's with O'Hare's appointment. "I've heard he's University Church in 1961. From 1963 to Union, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary and financial status, the institution's role in the more than qualified, and he's the'best man 1965, he pursued his doctoral studies in Czechoslovakia. Two years later, he, along community, and the University's student for the job," said Madden. philosophy at Rose Hill and received his doc- with Finlay, was a member of a special What is the reaction of Fordham's new °°dy. ,, torate here in 1968. delegation of the Association of Catholic president to his appointment'.' "Fordham can't be a parochial school, "He's well balanced, intelligent, and Colleges and Universities that visited "My first reaction was 'I'm going to said O'Hare. "I was surprised to see that so concerned," said Rev.