Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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Persistence prevails in Acker ' s administration Reading at home allows Acker to relax after work. Acker prepares lecture notes on an antique desk one of several pkces of Victorian furniture he has purchased for his controversial office. ;0 .Icker

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ACADEMICS IJ

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Persistence, like enthusiasm, can rub off on others. If someone holds strong beliefs, those beliefs can influence oth- ers. Duane Acker ' s role as president offers a different opportuni- ty for persistence. He must constantly instill to administrators and faculty a sense of responsibility to provide quality educa- tion. I think a person in this kind of spot has quite a responsibil- ity to encourage the vice presidents, deans and department heads to insist upon intellectually stimulating staffs, to see high-quality work. Acker said his persistence with the Board of Regents con- cerning the new classroom building has paid off. It wasn ' t on the Regents ' priority list, but with Acker ' s insistence to keep it a number one priority, it has finally been endorsed and ap- proved. The new building is jokingly known as Finally Hall, Acker said. Persistence lets other people know that the goal really is important. It helps convey that message, he said. Acker said that because he is more distant from the stu- dents, he must gain satisfaction from someone else doing work well. A lot of my impact has to be indirect, through encourage- ment and expression, because decisions are made by depart- ment heads and deans. They arc the ones delivering to the students. Acker does manage to be personal with students, regardless of his busy schedule. He frequently has dinner with several living groups and sometimes attends Student Senate meetings. He is teaching an introductory class in animal science this year. He said his course is beneficial to the student interested in animal science, but who doesn ' t have the farming back- ground. The teaching opportunity also helps him become aware of basic student needs, such as broken chairs and drop- add difficulties. Because Acker is busy throughout the day, he must often think of persistence to keep him going. But, he must break away at times, too. A momentary escape for him is to look out the window in his new office. Other escapes include music and books (such as history and mysteries). I love people, but I do need some solitude. Every three months I simply have to get out of town for five to seven days. Often it will be to a farm we have in southwest Iowa. I come back fresh and I ' m much more productive. Acker views a student ' s persistence in a different light. He said the student must apply himself without procrastination, because of a more finite time situation. You will be forced sometimes to be especially creative if you arc persistent, he said. That creativity leads to a solu- tion. Those things that come after a persistent pursuit taste better, and internal satisfactions are meaningful. Acker lectures on nutrition in an animal science class he taught. ackcr 21