February 25, 2022
After a fall semester of open community dialogue and collaboration associated with the complex histories and impacts of Father Junípero Serra, including a well-attended open forum with external experts from diverse perspectives, the Committee on Public Art and Images shares updates below with the university community.
- As a recap, the university had originally planned to relocate the Serra Statue in Fall 2021, conditions permitting. However, as was shared last semester, those conditions did not unfold in a way that anyone had anticipated. Repairs and campus operations were significantly delayed due to the unprecedented global pandemic, which shifted university priorities to health and safety initiatives. Due to factors like staff furloughs and supply-chain challenges, university facilities projects were delayed by constrained resources.
- The CPAI met in Summer 2021 and recommended that the university utilize the Fall 2021 semester to engage the returning campus community in a series of listening sessions with the aim of learning from one another. With the campus returning to in-person instruction, the CPAI sought to solicit feedback with transparency and with the benefit of in-person conversations. Depending on the outcome of those conversations, relocation efforts would be accomplished in Spring 2022.
- The CPAI appreciates that the community response to this revised plan was positive and supportive. The CPAI expresses gratitude for the thoughtful discussions among LMU students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Special thanks to ASLMU, GSLMU, the Indigenous Student Union, the LMU History Department, the L.A. Archdiocese, and many other groups for their feedback and guidance over the past year.
- The CPAI received several online feedback form submissions and emails from students, faculty, staff, and alumni, who generously shared their ideas and recommendations for the relocation for the Fr. Serra Statue.
- As announced last semester, the CPAI convened a special subcommittee, the Serra Statue Working Group, to review and evaluate community feedback and formulate next steps for relocating the Fr. Serra Statue. The Working Group has shared its feedback with the CPAI, which met to review outcomes and deliberate on next steps. Rooted in recommendations from the community, the CPAI shares the revised relocation plan:
- Earlier in statue relocation discussions, the university received feedback from community members seeking potential indoor venues for statue relocation. However, after several exploratory conversations with Facilities Management personnel and a structural engineer, these options were deemed impractical and unfeasible for a statue of this size and weight. Several alternatives were considered to reinforce the support structures of various buildings, all of which were deemed sub-optimal for safety.
- The statue was originally designed and intended for outdoor placement.
- As recommended by the Serra Working Group, the two major considerations include: the educational mission of the institution and attention and responsiveness to the present historical moment. As was discussed with the university community in Fall 2021, the complexities of Fr. Serra and his impacts requires a multi-pronged approach to accomplishing these two major considerations. The statue is only one factor—accomplishing the university’s educational mission requires that we deeply reflect on California and Catholic Church history in how we educate our students inside and outside the classroom.
- After considering various ideas and recommendations for statue relocation, the working group and the CPAI agreed to accept the Jesuit Community’s invitation and will relocate the Fr. Serra Statue to the grounds of the LMU Jesuit Community.
- March 2022 Update: Facilities Management is working with the Jesuit Community and relocating the statue to the Jesuit Community’s gardens in an area that invites reflection. Interested community members may visit the statue by contacting the Jesuit Community.
The CPAI will continue engaging with student and community groups to conclude these conversations and share its thanks to the community for approaching these complex issues with care and grace.