Ohio University - Athena Yearbook (Athens, OH)

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as integrated, interdependent and shared. Describing his job as demanding and satisfying, he said the problems and challenges of trying to go beyond what you can do is among life ' s most satisfying and rewarding activities. He concluded, It makes the job worthwhile. A year later Ping seemed satisfied with his job, his ac- complishments and the future of the university. His strong sense of calm pride pervaded his flowing, polished speech, leaving the impression that Dr. Charles Ping had every inten- tion of drawing the campus into a coherent whole. Left: Ping converses about O.U. students dur- ing the Spectrum GREEN interview. Below: Ping addresses faculty, administrators, alum- ni and students in September to report the state of the university. Below: Ping watches ceremonies during the 1976 commencement. Craig Holman University Publications Photography President Ping 27

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One year after Ping calmly views the year as productive, satisfying One of the most important By Belinda Scrimenti and Susan Wolbert One year following his inauguration as Ohio Univer- sity ' s 18th president, Dr. Charles Ping viewed the year as busy, productive and large- ly satisfying. Much changed in the time that Ping has been at the university helm including: an increase in enrollment, a new college of osteopathic medicine, a new set of ad- ministrators and new plans for the future. Ping ' s rhetoric flowed as he described his prime rol e. He saw it as drawing the campus into a coherent whole, develop- ing a sense of whole and community-commonness from the many priorities and goals of the overlapping groups in the university and developing the resources necessary to ac- complish these. Craig Holman Ping discusses the need for liberal education with Belinda Scrimenti during the Spectrum GREEN interview. changes Ping has seen has been a fundamental shift in at- titude. In his State of the University message he stated, we have begun to show faith in ourselves, in the quality of the life at Ohio University and in our future. He cited the translation of at- titudes back into the home communities as a major reason for the attitude change. He also noted an attitude change in The Post. He remarked that, It is just a feeling that the world is changing. Ping said he saw the Ohio University students as a diverse student community. He described them as, more sophisticated and metropolitan than students at most state in- stitutions and commented that it makes life on this campus different. He calmly described the students recreational habits on Court Street as not un- usual for students and added that they (Court street bars) were only more heavily concen- trated in Athens. He also ex- pressed pleasure at the students source of delight through use of the area ' s parks and recreation areas. With the removal of the pass- fail system and ABC grading system for freshmen, the revitalization of the liberal studies became one of the ma- jor themes of the year ' s ad- ministration. He cited a need for a structured curriculum but added, Courses are a means to the end but whether or not they are the only means is another question. He said he favored a com- position requirement because there is a need to develop the basic language skills and sen- sitivity to correctness in style and use of language. Ping defended the academic quality of the university with the comment, The measure of a university ' s academic quality is in its graduates. It is the only objective validity. He sup- ported this with a quick list of names and titles of successful Ohio University graduates in various fields. Ping has not attempted to run the university alone. He said he felt the role of leadership was in part depen- dent on persuasion and that he had commensurate authority with his handpicked administration. He described the character of university deci- sion making and administration 26 President Ping

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By John Micklos The 1 976-1 977 academic year was a time of transition in many ways for the Ohio University administration. The addition of the new College of Osteopathy, the dormitory rate changes, the new class schedule, and the move toward a more liberal base of student studies all represented an attempt to set the University on an even keel, both financially and academically. Neil Bucklew. the new provost, said, For me, it ' s been a year of get- ting oriented. He added with pleasure that he felt the institution was involved in a clear turn-around in its financial and academic problems. Bucklew was also pleased with the progress of the College of Osteopathy. He felt that it opened up A new vista for the university and provided a special outlet for the basic science programs. Bucklew believes that the removal of the pass fail option, plans for Left: Provost Neil Bucklew speaks to a government class in Bentley Hall. Below: Dean of Students Carol Harter speaks with reporter John Micklos. 28 Administration