Editor:
Thank you for forwarding the Open Letter to the administration of Wheeling College. I would join in those sentiments.
Fifty-five years ago, I left the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D. C., to attend the small, Jesuit, co-educational, liberal arts college on the Banks of The Ohio River. I think the best statement about my attending Wheeling was from my mother, when she was asked by her church-lady friends, ‘what is it like to have Billy with the Jesuits in West Virginia?’ Her response was this: “I am not sure what is worse. He has learned how to think, speak, and drink.”
Without the Jesuits and a full liberal arts curriculum, I am not sure what is going on out there now. Amongst my small group of alumni friends, I am unaware of anyone who believes or financially supports the current mission. In fact, I am not sure I am aware of the current mission for the institution is without an alumni publication. I believe they are operating without an alumni director. I know that the last edition of the alumni directory is dated 2008. That illustrates a lack of ‘connectivity’ with what should be your loyal support base.
Without any hesitation, I agree that technical knowledge and proficiency of performance of the allied medical arts is important. In addition, those entrusted with our care also need to have the ability to discern the circumstances and to clearly express, in both the oral and written word. the care and procedures needed for our recovery. But most of all, those individuals must be educated, not just trained, to have a sincere and genuine empathy for the human condition. It is the Jesuit liberal arts education that instills this quality within the mind, heart, and soul of the individual. It is so much more than just allied medical training.
I fear that the emphasis on athletic endeavors (I hear there is talk of the institution of a women’s wrestling team) has become a priority over the educational mission of the institution. Support for a quality university athletic program goes without question. However, such a dedication of resources should not be at the total loss of a Jesuit liberal arts education.
With the declaration of a ‘fiscal exigency’ in March 2019 and the jettison of the Jesuits shortly thereafter, it seems that financial mismanagement and a breach of fiduciary duty occurred. From this vantage point, there is a lack of transparency as to any effort to return to the foundational principles of what was the youngest Jesuit college in the United States. I understand that Wheeling was the only Jesuit college to be founded as a co-educational institution. That uniqueness is worthy of preservation.
Maybe God wants the current president to be there. However, this alum does not. Weekly updates about the condition of the elevators, slip and slide kickball, the arrival of a pool table and a vending machine to the campus and athletic scores in weekly e-mail epistles from the President of the University is beneath the dignity of the Office. Leave those topics to your facilities director and sports information director.
I would rather hear of meaningful efforts to return the Jesuits to the campus. The good news should be about the acquisitions to the university’s library collection, the benevolence of corporations, philanthropic organizations, and alumni to further the foundational mission of the college, the restoration of a comprehensive and quality liberal arts curriculum and of those students who have matriculated to graduate and/or professional schools to educate our children, care for our elderly parents and to minister to those of us who are sinners.
A very powerful illustration of this objective was noticed in June 2023 when Father James O’Brien, S. J., a veteran of 50 years at Wheeling, was inducted into the City’s Hall of Fame. At his introduction and at the conclusion of his remarks, he was the only inductee that I observed to receive a standing ovation. The comment from the Master of Ceremonies for the event says it best: ‘This is why we need the Jesuits back at Wheeling.’
I am disheartened with the loss of the Jesuit presence, tradition, and values from Wheeling. I still have a sense of that ‘Wheeling Feeling.’ Alma mater refers to the college or university one attended. It also refers to our nourishing mother. This is no longer the case for Wheeling College. What is there now is just a shadow of its once-statured position of pride and educational excellence of the individual for a lifetime of service to others.
I wish the best for the students. Every now and then I may send a small donation to a coach for their team. I do know that the entire educational experience would be so much better with the Jesuits back on campus. Having been named and baptized for one of the founders of the Order, I shall be forever thankful for the blessings of the Jesuit education that I received at Wheeling College. It is so sad that others will not have the same blessing.
William Francis Xavier Becker
William (Billy) Francis Xavier Becker
Wheeling (When It Was A Jesuit) College, 1972
