Detroit Mercy alum commissions sculpture to honor University's mission

University of Detroit Mercy alumnus Thomas Page ’71, ’76 recently commissioned a sculpture to honor and reflect the University’s Jesuit and Mercy foundations, traditions and values while paying homage to the institution’s bright future. An unveiling of this sculpture will take place during the University’s annual Homecoming Weekend Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2022.

According to Page, the focus of this artwork is to represent the Ignatian-Jesuit characteristic of “cura personalis,” or care for the whole person. In addition, the piece will honor the important tenets of respect, integrity, justice, compassion, and service of the institution’s co-sponsor, the Religious Sisters of Mercy.

Ultimately, University officials are enthusiastic to pay tribute in an artistic way to the Jesuit and Mercy values and traditions and look forward to the bright future of Detroit Mercy as reflected by the appointment of the new president, Donald B. Taylor, and the official opening of the newly renovated Student Union.

“We plan to place this sculpture at the intersection of student dorms, the Fitness Center, Student Union and academic buildings,” Page explained. “Our hope is that students will also create meaning for the sculpture as they see and experience it each day, and hopefully as they meet around it for events and activities,” he added.

Page is also working with Jason Roche, associate professor of Communication Studies in the College of Liberal Arts & Education, on a documentary that explains the concept behind the sculpture. In addition, he is in discussions with the Department of English about a project involving students to name the sculpture in the near future.

Page has remained a steadfast supporter of his alma mater for decades. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 1971, a master’s degree in Urban Studies in ’76 from University of Detroit, and he credits his education for his success. His career in law enforcement began with the Detroit Police Department before he headed out to Los Angeles where he worked for some 20 years with the LAPD. It was there he began work on a new initiative, helping to create a standardized, effective approach to combat drug-impaired driving that is now used throughout the world. This approach to combating drug-impaired driving has been adopted by law enforcement agencies in all 50 states, Canada, and in other jurisdictions.

The sculpture is being created by brothers Erik and Israel Nordin of the Detroit Design Center, an organization that creates award-winning artistic objects using glass, wood, metal and other mediums. One of their well-known pieces is “One World…Under Michigan Stars,” created and installed at Belle Isle this past year. To learn more about the Detroit Design Center, please visit http://www.detroitdesigncenter.com.

For more about Detroit Mercy’s 2022 Homecoming, please visit https://www.udmercy.edu/about/news/articles/2022/08-31-homecoming.php.

Caption of below photo: (From left) Erik Nordin, Tom Page and Israel Nordin work on the sculpture.