Seton Hall University - Galleon Yearbook (South Orange, NJ)

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“The one failing most commonly laid to higher education today is that it is irrelevant. For documentation, con- sult almost any college student, or al- most any college newspaper . . . Two things can be said about this charge: it is serious and it hurts. It hurts because most of us have devoted many years of our lives to building up a system which we assumed, until recently, was reasonably well adapted to the abilities and aspirations of our students . . . However hurtful, higher education has now begun to face up to the charge of irrelevancy, if for no better reason than its very survival is involved. ” — Msgr. Thomas G. Fahy Inaugural Address October 14, 1970 During his six years as University President, Msgr. Thomas G. Fahy strove to meet the challenge of the re- levant education he described in his inaugural address. His tenure as Seton Hall’s chief administrator was a period of educational progress and develop- ment, increased student participation and responsibility and community concern and involvement. His con- tributions to the University were many and began in the early days of his ad- ministration. The Fahy Years ( 1970 - 1976 ) ; Plans for the first Seton Hall Univer- sity Senate, a governing body com- posed of administrators and faculty, as well as students, were completed in January 1970. Msgr. Fahy created the Senate “to consider, evaluate and de- cide any University educational policy and effect their implementation.” In his address to the first group of senators he said, “The success or fail- ure of this University Senate will be the success or failure of this Universi- ty.” His words were sincere — the Sen- ate became an active assemblage. “If you don’t have adequate physical facilities, you’re working at a disad- vantage,” he once remarked. To help alleviate this problem, Msgr. Fahy was actively involved in various physical improvements and additions to the University. In January 1971 he approved plans for the creation of the bubble “in order to provide a facility for intramurals, indoor track and recreational facilities 18 Dedication for students.” During the same year, donations and grants from people both within and outside of the University helped to complete the conversion of the campus “Red Barn” into an art gal- lery and instruction studio for the De- partment of Art and Music. A few months later, arrangements were made for the construction of the business and nursing halls. “We waited a long time for thi project,” he said. “The College of Nursing will now get the facilities they have long de- served.” Those facilities included ob- servation and demonstration rooms, a seminar outlet and lecture hall in addi- tion to classroom and faculty offices. Work on the $3 million complex was completed in May 1973 and has helped to serve the ever growing popu- Top: Msgr. Fahy addresses graduates at the 1975 commencement exercises. Right: A strong sup- porter of democratic governance, Msgr. Fahy recognizes a speaker at a University Senate meeting. The Senate will long be remembered as one of his many accomplishments.

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Opposite page inset photo by S, Weinberg. Msgr. Thomas G. Fahy 14th President 1922 - 1976 The man created as an educator Shall even in death Continue To teach. Who chose So justly this time and place? The environment — the season perhaps Divinely selected, sing truly of life’s continuity — It flows Eternal: The falling leaf In majestic beauty drifts to earth, Magnificent maturity, light touches, creates new beauty emerging on infant images of sweet smelling seedlings and students hurrying in blinded impatience To reach these heights from which they too must drift to earth someday. Vince Harder Campus locksmith “We bury Msgr. Thomas George Fahy with honor, for his life was an honor to everything of which he was a part. He was an honor to the family whose name he bore. His achievement was begotten of what his parents had given him. He was an honor to the priesthood. His fellow seminarians respected his gifted mind, his unassuming manner, and his manly and unobtrusive piety. His priestly and professional life served a cause: the cause was Seton Hall. He was an honor to the human community. He was compassionate not only in thought and feeling, but in action.” These words, spoken by former University President Bishop John J. Dougherty at Msgr. Fahy’s funeral, express the sentiments of all of us at Seton Hall. In order to honor Msgr. Thomas G. Fahy, we dedicate the 1977 Galleon in his memory. Dedication 17

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so that “Latin American students could come to Seton Hall and direct themselves to all levels of education.” The Middle States Evaluation team commended the University during their last visit for providing “a strong commitment to minorities in light of the divergent interest in the metropoli- tan area.” The evaluators were also “amazed at the dedication and loyalty of the student body and the spirit throughout the campus.” Msgr. Fahy’s efforts as University president were evident in the area of Student Affairs as well. In April 1972, he attended meetings of the South Orange Village Board of Trustees to speak on behalf of the students’ re- quest for a liquor license. He took an active role in the drive; he spent time calming the fears of local community leaders since he believed the students were mature enough to operate a pub on campus. He secured the volunteer services of Seton Hall alumnus Rod- man Herman to act as attorney for the Student Government Association. Even after the Women’s Residence Hall was built, more housing was needed for girls on campus. Msgr. Fahy approved a proposal in April 1973 to allocate the first floor of Old Boland Hall for use by women stu- dents. During the fall of 1974, a Students’ Bill of Rights was adopted by the Uni- versity Senate after discussions were held with students, faculty and ad- ministrators. One year later, an Advi- sory Council for the Student Pro- gramming Board was created to insure fair representation of minority students and an adequate amount of minority programming. In addition, Msgr. Fahy settled a dispute over programming on radio station WSOU by providing more time for minority shows. The day before his inauguration on October 14, 1970, Msgr. Fahy was in- vited to give an invocation before the House of Representatives. When he was finished, the Honorable Joseph G. Minish said of Msgr. Fahy: “I believe that he is destined to leave his imprint not only on Seton Hall University, but on the larger community it serves.” Certainly Msgr. Fahy’s six years as President of Seton Hall are standing proof of the Congressman’s words. • Dedication 19 lation of business and nursing majors at Seton Hall. With a strong belief that the law school must “continue to maintain its base of operations in the major legal center of the state,” Msgr. Fahy ap- proved and supervised the construc- tion of the $4.7 million Law Center on Raymond Boulevard in Newark. Many new programs came into exis- tence during the Fahy years, including an undergraduate Black Studies degree program and the Puerto Rican Insti- tute. Although the Black Studies Center had been established a few years earlier, March 1971 marked the beginning of a baccalaureate degree in Black Studies. In November 1973, the Puerto Rican Institute was established Top: His door always open and light always on, Msgr. Fahy spent many hours working at his desk. Middle: Msgr. Fahy explains his position at a committee meeting. Left: Msgr. Fahy discus- ses goals and plans at the 1974 Faculty Convoca- tion in the Main Lounge.