University of Washington - Tyee Yearbook (Seattle, WA)

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I President L P. Sieg 22

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i . Admmistration

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It was in 1934 that Lee Paul Sieg stepped into the president ' s office and began to direct the functions of the University o f Washington. hie went to college, because it was the thing to do. At one time he thought he might become an electricol engineer. He graduated in three years (against his will) from Iowa University and remained there to teach physics. It was in one of these classes that he met his future wife. Had it not been for circumstances beyond his control President Sieg ' s picture might not now be printed here. Dean Sieg, as he was called at Pittsburg University, where he was dean of three colleges simultaneously, was comfortable in Pittsburg, and he liked the place. When he was offered the presidency of the University of Washington, he looked the situation over, and twice replied in the negative. The third time fate stepped in. You go out there, ordered Mrs. Sieg. 1944-45 was his eleventh year on the job. According to his announcement to the Board of Regents, not more than two years will be added to that record. Wise and comparatively liberal, President Sieg has token a deep interest in building up the University and in help- ing the students. Thrice yearly he appears before that University — for his convocation ' s address welcoming freshmen, for the Sieg-instituted President ' s Reception, and at commencement. His one deep regret — that he cannot know more of the students personally. MY DEAR STUDENTS: YOU ARE THE FIRST COMPLETE WARTIME COLLEGE GENERATION TO BE GRADUATED FROM OUR UNIVERSITY IN THE PRESENT WORLD WAR. FOUR YEARS AGO YOUR COLLEGE CAREERS BEGAN IN THE SHADOW OF PEARL HARBOR AND j SINCE THEN YOU HAVE KNOWN ONLY A WARTIME CAMPUS IN A WORLD AT WAR. ' IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR US, BACK IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE WAR, TO SEE THE FOREST FOR ' THE TREES. WE HAD TO MEET OBSTACLES AND PROBLEMS AND TO DISPOSE OF THEM ONE AT A TIME. BUT NOW WE HAVE TIME, EVEN AS THE WAR EFFORT CONTINUES UNABATED, TO LOOK AHEAD TO THE PATTERN OF THINGS TO COME. I PROFOUNDLY HOPE THAT THE WARTIME YEARS YOU HAVE SPENT HERE IN THE COMPARA- TIVE SECLUSION OF OUR ACADEMIC HALLS HAVE GIVEN YOU THE PERSPECTIVE TO SEE THE FOR- EST, NOTJUSTTHETREES, AND HAVE PREPARED YOU TO SERVE YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR FELLOW- CITIZENS, NOW AND IN THE FUTURE, TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITIES. MY BEST WISHES TO ALL OF YOU. L P. SIEG PRESIDENT 23