The Franciscan University of Steubenville

I graduated in 1978. The campus was filling up with Charismatic kids which were being actively recruited from all across the United States by the Admissions office. This was done under the direction of Fr Michael Scanlan, TOR. While I was on campus there was still a lot of Greek Life, GDIs and open debate. The new charismatic kids were kind of surprised to find that the campus was still very secular. I think they had been lead to believe it would be more Christian.

I loved the different kinds of people on campus, even though I kept to my own group of christians. The Barronette would run articles that the administration didn't like. The campuse was open and the dorms were modest. It was a simple place and easy to find friendship or solitude any time you wanted it. I loved my days there and I received a decent education that served me well.

My favorite professors were Donald Rowe, Rob Englert, John Korzi, Dr Carrig (he had 3 beautiful daughters and I had crushes on all of them!). Fr Sinisi, Fr Jack and Fr Gerry were priests that I remember well.

There was a parallel group dedicated the the "renewal" of the College back then. I was a member of that. It was called a Covenant Community. The Covenant Community played a big role in overseeing Student Households and providing a recruitment pool of administrators and faculty. The influence of this group intensified over the 1980s when the College was renamed Franciscan University. In the 2000s the University became more and more conservative. They abandoned any neutrality it seemed and became advocates of the Republican Party and the ideas of said group. Rick Santorum would visit there and be warmly welcomed during the 2012 campaigns for President. This sort of stuff has made me withhold my support -financial and otherwise- for my alma mater. I do not believe they are worthy of the adjective "Franciscan." Its not the same place I loved in the 70s.

4th Year Male -- Class 1978

Education Quality: A+, Surrounding City: F