Kent State University - Chestnut Burr Yearbook (Kent, OH)

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Dr. Robert I. White Sixth President of Kent State University

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Applause, Praise Laud Educator Robert I. White was selected for his office after a nine- month, nationwide study by a faculty-trustee committee. Commending his selection, Robert C. Dix, committee chair- man, said, The committee ' s favorable opinion of Dr. White was confirmed repeatedly by testimony from other campuses. ... You couldn ' t find a better qualified man in the United States, said retiring President George A. Bowman of his successor. Dr. White ' s experiences as an educator and administra- tor range from teaching in elementary and secondary schools to presidency of a junior college and professorship at the University of Chicago. A Phi Beta Kappa, he came to KSU in 1946 as dean of the College of Education. In 1958, he became the first holder of the university post of vice pres- ident of academic affairs. White acknowledges a standing ovation as he accepts new duties. 13

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' We Accept The Obligation ' Freedom, selectivity, quality and cultural values are basic requirements of the modern state school, President Robert I. White told his inaugural audience. Created in American society as one of those guaran- tees of social mobility without which a democracy cannot exist, the American state university is novel to the world, he said. The service, the hopes, the fate of the world commonwealth are its domain. Universities must recognize their limits, he said. Nothing should be attempted unless it can be done ex- cellently and without harm to ongoing good programs. Standardization, centralization and outside harrassment will destroy the effectiveness of the faculty. The growing proportion of young people enrolling makes quality a necessity. Society ' s stake is too great to allow anything else, he emphasized. Changing enrollments, accelerated programs of grad- uate study and research and the need for training for public and professional services are challenges and res- ponsibilities to be met in the future, Dr. White noted. The needs for these are obvious indeed, and their campus influence is quite pervasive and powerful. No longer youthful but mature and not bound by outdated restrictions, we move forward from a position of strength provided by the many who have preceded us, he said. With thoroughness, with study, with a dedica- tion to excellence, we will accept the obligation of being a state university in modern America.