On Wednesday I was delighted to spend a day at Saint Louis University as a guest of the Walter J. Ong, S.J, Center for Language, Culture and Media Studies. I was very graciously hosted by Dr. Sara van den Berg, Professor of English and Director of the Ong Center, and Dr. Jonathan Sawdey, Chairman of the English Department and Walter J. Ong Chair in the Humanities.
The occasion was the latest of annual symposia (the eighth) incorporating the annual Ong Memorial Lecture, and this year's subject, influenced by the events in nearby Ferguson last autumn, was Race and Expression. The keynote address was given by Dr. Houston Baker, Chancellor's Professor at Vanderbilt University and renowned authority on African American literary criticism and theory. My family and I had a hand in supporting the Ong Center and the lecture series at the outset and this was my first chance to actually attend an event and get a sense of what was going on at SLU (the insiders say "Sloo"), whether "Ongian" (another localism) or in general.
I missed the morning program in the Pius XII Library as I had meetings with the University's President, Dr. Fred Pestello, and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Michael Barber, S.J. (The University and College seem to be in able hands!) But, after a nice lunch in the faculty club, I attended the afternoon session which was held in the Pere Marquette Gallery in the oldest (I think) academic building, DuBourg Hall, next to the College Church (both in the photo at the top). The Gallery was the original university library, restored for multi-purpose use, and is a beautiful multi-story space.
One panel in the afternoon consisted of undergraduate students in the African American Studies program, and while of course they were still honing their presentational skills, they all came across as thoughtful and smart. I was impressed.
Father Ong's work was frequently referenced throughout the day, and his image even once made it to the big screen. I am happy to say that his spirit and academic legacy are alive and well at SLU and I look forward to a return. I am especially grateful to Sara van den Berg who conceived of the Ong Center and its mission, and whose guidance and direction has clearly been a labor of love and evidence of deep respect for its namesake.
The gateway to All Things Ongian at SLU is here http://www.slu.edu/the-ong-center.
[Added Jan. 2019: SLU's video tribute to Ong's intellectual legacy is here.]
Perhaps St Louis should be the venue of the next Ong Family Reunion? It certainly is central to the family's far-flung footprint on this continent!
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