Oregon State University - Beaver Yearbook (Corvallis, OR)

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 c Mrs. r Rte«er enjoy the scenery that their backyard provides. Photo by Nat ' GvJd J rs Kisser IT spends most of her at home time in their home office where they each have a personal desk. Photo by Kan! GouU ginee computer .;ime is at a premium. Pres. Mrs. Kisser compete to be the first one to use it. Photo ty Natalie GovLi pn h. £ nw. niM i00 17

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Story by Genevieve R Moore resident Risser became the thirteenth presi-Mjtex of Oregon State University alter John I V. Byrne retired on December 31.1995. President Paul Risser is the thirteenth president of Oregon State University. Before Oregon State. Pres. Risser was the president of M ami University in Ohio. Before Miami University. Pres. Risser held administrative positions at the University of New Mexico. 1986-1992. headed the Illinois Natural History Survey.1981 -1986 and served on the University of Oklahoma faculty from 1967- HlOC© ty OoJJ 1981. Currently Pres, and Mrs. Risser spend their days meeting with committees, the legislature, entertaining, attending university functions and tackling major university issues ‘Last year, for 18 months. I was on a task force for the Greek community. This year I am currently involved with a community health initiative where we are looking at the alcohol issue.’ explained Mrs. Risser. Pres. Risser has been spending much of his time lobbying for higher education dunng legislative sessions. 1 get realy tired of having to defend higher education in this state, but I feel that we have been very effective in doing so. repSed Pres. Risser. 1 have my hopes up that we're likely to get more money this year than we got last year, maybe by quite a lot.’ One of the most important issues for Oregon State during the past few years has been enrolment. Various billboard and advertising campaigns have been launched by the university to encourage students to stay in state and attend Oregon State University. In addition to advertising. OSU has implemented new satefite programs which alow students to become enroled at Oregon State while attendhg courses through sateite universities or through the internet. These campaigns and programs have helped to raise Oregon State’s student enrollment to the highest it has been in years. However, enrollment is just one of the many issues facing OSU. The new millennium is 16 00 QiudenL lije rapidly approaching and with it comes concern for the millennium bug known as ‘Y2K’. When asked how Y2K prepared the university is. President Risser replied. ’We think pretty well. We've had a person who has had the full-time responsibility of trouble shooting for the university. I won't say that we won't have any glitches, but I think it is fckefy that they wB be very minor. Part of that is because, unlike some situations where people just continue to buy software that isn't Y2K okay. I think that software is not much of an issue for us. Y2K problems may be things like elevators.’ With issues like funding the university, increasing enrollment and Y2K preparation, one would think that the Risser's would have a list of least favorite responsfcities. But when asked what their least favorite part of being the President and First Lady of Oregon State was, Pres, and Mrs. Risser agreed that it was making choices 'My only least favorite part is that sometimes we have to make choices between where to go. I find that really drfficult because we fike to do it al actualy and try to give equal attention to each part.’ said Mrs Risser.

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interr tfraW Stoybyfe . v:R Mocre . An international experience car never be taught in a classroom, and its impact can never be predicted - that is vvtiat makes it so exciting' pen minds, open doors was the new slogan of OSH and nothing embodied this idea more than the Office of Internationai Education. Through this office, students could learn about study abroad programs, earning an international degree and becoming a global graduate. In the spring of 19981 studied abroad in Sienna, Italy through the office of International Education. This was an experience urtke any other. While I would never dxiose to spend the rest of my life in Italy, the experience of living there for three months taught me that knowledge really ts power. Experiencing life in another culture gave me a knowledge that I could not have gained elsewhere. Kyle Shaver. Biochem Biophysics major PHsto by Geneva R These programs were available to any OSU student, whether graduate or undergraduate. The program to study abroad was available in Asia. Europe or Latin America The program provided students with the opportunity to rive in a foreign country as well as go to school while stiH receiwng OSU credits towards their degree. The international degree enabled a student at the undergraduate level to receive two degrees. While earning a bachelors degree in their field, they could also earn a bachelors degree in international studes. The global graduates programs alowed students to gain professional experience while working overseas. Many people, including those here and abroad, considered studying abroad to be the ‘easy way’ to earn a terms worth of credits. I could honestly say that Irving in haly was not easy. It was not easy to go to Italy without knowing any Italian, it was not easy not knowing how to flush a toilet and it was not easy being completely disoriented twenty-four hours a day. seven days a week It was truly a 100% educational experience. There were lessons that I learned in Italy that would have been impossible to learn in a classroom. There were some things tliat only experience could teach us and that is what the Office of International Education provided They gave the opportunity to students to learn what they may otherwise have never known. IS 00 Cturieni Lifp