John Slobodnik, Interview with Keith Gill, 1998
Item
John Slobodnik, 2001. (Photograph Courtesy of Loyola University Chicago Archives and Special Collections)
Interview Audio Side A
Interview Audio Side B
Interview Transcript
Title
John Slobodnik, Interview with Keith Gill, 1998
Summary
Mundelein College superintendent of maintenance, John Slobodnik recollects the condition of Mundelein skyscraper in the months before the college’s affiliation with Loyola in 1991. He recounts the multimillion dollar refurbishment that he and his crew undertook the affiliation and describes the various projects he oversaw in the decades that followed. Slobodnik expresses his deep support for the mission of Mundelein and expresses the practical necessity for the affiliation.
Date Created
1998
Biography
John Slobodnik was born on Chicago’s West Side in 1938. Slobodnik served as the Mundelein College superintendent of maintenance for eight months until its affiliation with Loyola University Chicago. After affiliation, Slobodnik oversaw the refurbishment of the Mundelein skyscraper and several other building projects for Loyola including the lakeshore revetment project, the Gentile Center, and the university parking garage.
Time Log
John Slobodnik
Interview with Keith Gill, November 18, 1998
Chicago, IL
Time Log
Side A
0-5 minutes
Introductions:
Born in 1938 in Chicago. Went for two years to college. Mundelein was having trouble with the skyscraper building and so Slobodnik was called in for a consultation with Sister Mary Breslin for three months. Needed a superintendent with a great deal of experience for the building.
5-10 minutes
Had twenty years experience and was no longer challenged and offered his own services. Slobodnik believed in the concept of a women’s college and struck a deal with Sister Mary Breslin in July of 1989. Mundelein did not have the money to bring the building into the twenty first century. Mundelein did not spend the money for maintenance over the years and the college was not on solid financial footing. Felt the women were cheated out of a good education.
10-15 minutes
Slobodnik went to a BVM high school and he admires them. Believes that they were there to help others and they did that. But they lost sight of the fact that the college was a business. They gave more scholarships than was feasible. Mundelein was picked up by Loyola and many stayed after the affiliation. One of the projects was to renovate the exterior of the skyscraper piece by piece. It was an 81/2 million dollar project which took 21/2 years. The steel was rotting away and iron work was rusting away. This gives you and idea of what the BVMs were up against. Felt that the degradation was not due to construction, it was sound. The steel and the materials were not modern, however.
15-20 minutes
The sisters faced an enormous challenge to fix the building. Loyola has been proactive in fits efforts to fix the buildings Loyola owns Piper Hall, Coffey Hall, and tore down a residence hall. The city fathers had been very lenient with the sisters at Mundelein. When Loyola bought the properties, the city brought the hammer down and they needed to bring the buildings up to code. Some of the skyscraper, including staircases and the lobby has landmark status on the national register of historic places.
20-25 minutes
When Slobodnik arrived he had no idea that the affiliation would take place. The news of Mundelein’s closing came out of the blue for him and for a lot of people. Was not involved in helping with the transfer. Slobodnik worked with the facilities people at Loyola to get jobs for his people. Loyola picked up all of the Mundelein maintenance and facilities people.
25-30 minutes
They were allowed to bring their seniority, vacation, and retirement over to Loyola. This was handled well. Loyola has slowed down on the interior. The pool and the gym in the skyscraper were used at one time. There was a plan to demolish the Loyola steam plant and put it where the pool and gym were because they had an internal smoke stack. Slobodnik put up the Loyola parking garage, the Gentile Center, the gym, and a revetment project for lake shore protection.
30-35 minutes
Slobodnik’s title is “project manager” and has his office in the skyscraper. Is doing the exterior of Lewis Towers downtown. Built soccer and baseball fields for Loyola. Involved in Loyola’s rental and investment properties as well.
35-40 minutes
The affiliation with Loyola has been a good thing for Slobodnik. Loyola’s computer budget for one year was bigger than Mundelein’s operating budget for a year.
40-45 minutes
Slobodnik believed strongly in the idea of a women’s college. Few places women could go to develop themselves without being in competition with men. He believed in helping the sisters out. His association with Mundelein was more than just “business.” Greatly respected Sister Ida Gannon
45-50 minutes
Any male students at Mundelein,. for the most part, were attending Weekend College. Even with their presence, the college really belonged to the women. The women could be themselves without the pressure of the opposite sex. The sisters were really there for the students.
Side B
0-5 minutes
One of the successes of Mundelein was the personal involvement of the sisters. The faculty at Mundelein were very close, they did things as a group because they were forced to pool their resources. Mundelein’s alumni meetings show this kind of devotion. Recollects many students receiving a great deal of attention from the sisters. Knows people who worked on maintenance for Mundelein for longer than he had.
5-10 minutes
Knows people who worked on maintenance for Mundelein for longer than he had.
Interview with Keith Gill, November 18, 1998
Chicago, IL
Time Log
Side A
0-5 minutes
Introductions:
Born in 1938 in Chicago. Went for two years to college. Mundelein was having trouble with the skyscraper building and so Slobodnik was called in for a consultation with Sister Mary Breslin for three months. Needed a superintendent with a great deal of experience for the building.
5-10 minutes
Had twenty years experience and was no longer challenged and offered his own services. Slobodnik believed in the concept of a women’s college and struck a deal with Sister Mary Breslin in July of 1989. Mundelein did not have the money to bring the building into the twenty first century. Mundelein did not spend the money for maintenance over the years and the college was not on solid financial footing. Felt the women were cheated out of a good education.
10-15 minutes
Slobodnik went to a BVM high school and he admires them. Believes that they were there to help others and they did that. But they lost sight of the fact that the college was a business. They gave more scholarships than was feasible. Mundelein was picked up by Loyola and many stayed after the affiliation. One of the projects was to renovate the exterior of the skyscraper piece by piece. It was an 81/2 million dollar project which took 21/2 years. The steel was rotting away and iron work was rusting away. This gives you and idea of what the BVMs were up against. Felt that the degradation was not due to construction, it was sound. The steel and the materials were not modern, however.
15-20 minutes
The sisters faced an enormous challenge to fix the building. Loyola has been proactive in fits efforts to fix the buildings Loyola owns Piper Hall, Coffey Hall, and tore down a residence hall. The city fathers had been very lenient with the sisters at Mundelein. When Loyola bought the properties, the city brought the hammer down and they needed to bring the buildings up to code. Some of the skyscraper, including staircases and the lobby has landmark status on the national register of historic places.
20-25 minutes
When Slobodnik arrived he had no idea that the affiliation would take place. The news of Mundelein’s closing came out of the blue for him and for a lot of people. Was not involved in helping with the transfer. Slobodnik worked with the facilities people at Loyola to get jobs for his people. Loyola picked up all of the Mundelein maintenance and facilities people.
25-30 minutes
They were allowed to bring their seniority, vacation, and retirement over to Loyola. This was handled well. Loyola has slowed down on the interior. The pool and the gym in the skyscraper were used at one time. There was a plan to demolish the Loyola steam plant and put it where the pool and gym were because they had an internal smoke stack. Slobodnik put up the Loyola parking garage, the Gentile Center, the gym, and a revetment project for lake shore protection.
30-35 minutes
Slobodnik’s title is “project manager” and has his office in the skyscraper. Is doing the exterior of Lewis Towers downtown. Built soccer and baseball fields for Loyola. Involved in Loyola’s rental and investment properties as well.
35-40 minutes
The affiliation with Loyola has been a good thing for Slobodnik. Loyola’s computer budget for one year was bigger than Mundelein’s operating budget for a year.
40-45 minutes
Slobodnik believed strongly in the idea of a women’s college. Few places women could go to develop themselves without being in competition with men. He believed in helping the sisters out. His association with Mundelein was more than just “business.” Greatly respected Sister Ida Gannon
45-50 minutes
Any male students at Mundelein,. for the most part, were attending Weekend College. Even with their presence, the college really belonged to the women. The women could be themselves without the pressure of the opposite sex. The sisters were really there for the students.
Side B
0-5 minutes
One of the successes of Mundelein was the personal involvement of the sisters. The faculty at Mundelein were very close, they did things as a group because they were forced to pool their resources. Mundelein’s alumni meetings show this kind of devotion. Recollects many students receiving a great deal of attention from the sisters. Knows people who worked on maintenance for Mundelein for longer than he had.
5-10 minutes
Knows people who worked on maintenance for Mundelein for longer than he had.
Index
John Slobodnik 1998 Index
KEY
JS 1998= John Slobodnik 1998 Interview
INDEX
BVM education, JS 1998 A 10-15
Coffey Hall, JS 1998 A 15-20
Landmark Status, JS 1998 A 15-20
Lewis Towers, JS 1998 A 30-35
Loyola facilities, JS 1998 A 20-25
Loyola University Chicago properties, JS 1998 A 30-35
Mundelein College/Loyola University affiliation, JS 1998 A 10-15, JS 1998 A 35-40
Mundelein College/ Loyola University Chicago transition, JS 1998 A 25-30
Mundelein finances, JS 1998 A 5-10
Mundelein skyscraper building, JS 1998 A 0-5, JS 1998 A 25-30
Mundelein skyscraper building renovation, JS 1998 A 10-15
National Register of Historic Places, JS 1998 A 15-20
Piper Hall, JS 1998 A 15-20
Sister Ann Ida Gannon, BVM, JS 1998 A 40-45
Sister Mary Breslin, BVM, JS 1998 A 0-5, JS 1998 A 5-10
Weekend College, JS 1998 A 45-50
Women’s colleges, JS 1998 A 40-45
KEY
JS 1998= John Slobodnik 1998 Interview
INDEX
BVM education, JS 1998 A 10-15
Coffey Hall, JS 1998 A 15-20
Landmark Status, JS 1998 A 15-20
Lewis Towers, JS 1998 A 30-35
Loyola facilities, JS 1998 A 20-25
Loyola University Chicago properties, JS 1998 A 30-35
Mundelein College/Loyola University affiliation, JS 1998 A 10-15, JS 1998 A 35-40
Mundelein College/ Loyola University Chicago transition, JS 1998 A 25-30
Mundelein finances, JS 1998 A 5-10
Mundelein skyscraper building, JS 1998 A 0-5, JS 1998 A 25-30
Mundelein skyscraper building renovation, JS 1998 A 10-15
National Register of Historic Places, JS 1998 A 15-20
Piper Hall, JS 1998 A 15-20
Sister Ann Ida Gannon, BVM, JS 1998 A 40-45
Sister Mary Breslin, BVM, JS 1998 A 0-5, JS 1998 A 5-10
Weekend College, JS 1998 A 45-50
Women’s colleges, JS 1998 A 40-45
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