Bethel University - Spire Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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Bethel College is proud to have a qualified man for the position of Dean after a two year search. With the election of Dr. Virgil Olson to the position of Vice President and Dean of the College, all of the executive positions of the college and seminary are filled. For seventeen years prior to the accepting of the deanship. Dr. Olson was Professor of Church History and Missions at Bethel Theological Seminary. For part of this time he also served as Registrar. Dean Olson graduated from Bethel Junior College. Ma-calcster College, Bethel Seminary, and he received his Th.D. from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Chicago. Further, he has done post doctoral work at Northwestern University and Uppsala University in Sweden. He has been active in the Baptist General Conference. serving as a pastor in three churches, and also serving on Conference Boards and once being elected as Moderator of the Conference. The new Dean feels challenged by his new position. Someone asked him how he felt about being in the ivory tower ' since becoming dean. He replied. I was more in an ivory A Man With a Vision . . . Dr. Virgil Olson. Dean tower when I was in the classroom, because there you could deal with all the problems of the world and not worry about making many responsible decisions. Now must make decisions that affect many lives and important programs. I enjoy the risks as well as the rewards of decision making.' The Dean has been impressed by the caliber of the student body. He feels that they have great potential and he hopes that when Bethel students leave the school they will be willing to be a part of the mission of God's Kingdom in the world. According to the Dean, the Christian liberal arts college is to try to prepare man so that he is fully conscious of the greatness of the Creator God as well as the Redeemer God. The liberally trained man must he able to integrate the natural aspects of life with the spiritual if he is to be a person dedicated to the service of God. ' The Dean continues by slating his agreement with the statement: Education should provide the experience of coming to terms with and accepting responsibility for oneself and one's world. 16 1 - ............................. —

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Dreams Approach Reality A woman's hw is never clone To enter or not — that is the question. Backed by controversy and impatience, the construction of Bethel's new dormitory continued on Arden Hill campus. The completion date was initially set for September, but due to weather and labor complications it was moved to November. Coeds scattered from South Minneapolis, the State Fairgrounds motel. Edgren Dorm. Eagle Manor and even-daily Seminary Village waited apprehensively for the move-in signal. Despite crowded conditions and lack of facilities, especially for the mote! residents, life settled down to a resemblance of routine by October. Routine consisted of such things as this overheard comment from a motel resident. I feel like I'm coming down with arthritis today. studied until three A.M. in the bathroom so wouldn't disturb my roommates.” Hopes would rise with each new notice from the administration stating that D-day had arrived. At last can unpack my suitcases and boxes.” Eve been wearing these two shirts for almost three months.” Then following each notice would be another notice with regrets that the construction company had encountered more complications. Meanwhile the Administrative Council was reviewing and discussing rents and rebates. Initially the new rent was to be higher than the other college residences. Reasons cited by Burton Wessman. vice-president of business affairs, were the difference in facilities” and bus service provided to the new residents. The reasons were promptly debated by the Clarion which staled: First, the majority of its future occupants did not ask to live there. Most students assigned to the new dorm requested housing on or near the campus. Secondly. it slated the inconvenience of living four miles off-campus should be taken into consideration. Consequently, the council reconsidered and the dormitory rents were set uniform with other college residents. Dr. Goodman. Director of Public Affairs, stated that the coed living encouraged a more normal social life with its common lounge as opposed to the formal and rigid life of separate dorms.' The fact that it is an experiment and something new for Bethel adds to the excitement of the new dorm. 18