Alma College - Scotsman Yearbook (Alma, MI)

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PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY ln September, Dr. and Mrs. Dunning celebrated the fourth anniversary of their moving into the president's house on the Alma campus. Since their coming to Alma from Kalamazoo in 1938, Alma's president and first lady have frequently acted as a most gracious host and hostess to the many noted guests of the college, as well as to faculty and student groups. Mrs. Dunning, an Alma alumna herself, has for several years played an important part in women's organizations both on the campus and in the city. 'I9

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ADMINISTRATION The school year 1941-42, the fourth year of the administration of Dr. John Wirt Dunning, saw the culmination of many years of constructive planning on the part of the administration, students, and friends of Alma College. On October 9, 1941, the long awaited college chapel was dedicated and began what will undoubtedly be a long and useful life as a place of daily worship for both the students and faculty of the college. Upon the opening of the first semester the administration was faced with the tre- mendous problem of carrying on under the handicap of a reduced enrollment due to the war situation. The registration in September was approximately 80 less than that of the same month of the previous year and as the year went on this situation steadily became worse as one student after another dropped out of school to answer the call to arms. During the past turbulent months, when the government's attitude toward the student seemed to change from day to day, Dr. Dunning has devotedly taken upon himself the task of keeping the men of the college informed of all developments which affect them. At the end of this school year many of the men of Alma College find themselves deeply grateful for the unselfish effort made by President Dunning and the adminis- tration in aiding some in obtaining educational deferments and in recommending others for higher positions in the various branches of the armed forces. In addition to these more tangible activities, President Dunning has also acted as a most helpful and sympathetic counselor to the students, beset by the numerous prob- lems thrust upon them by the present critical situation. Still another duty of the president of a college is to act as the representative of the college to the public at large. Dr. Dunning has not only acted as an efficient coordinator between those who support the college and the college itself, but has represented the college to many groups, organizations, and individuals in such a way as to foster the best interests of the school. 18

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ADMINISTRATION Again this year the president's office was the center from which all student enlistment work was directed .Through the efficient administration of this office, faculty and student groups have travelled through every part of the state acquainting high school students with Alma College. They have met with unusually promising results in this work. Aiding Dr. Dunning in carrying out all of the myriad duties connected with the supervision and administration of the general policies of the college was his most able secretary, Mrs. H. O. Abernethy. Continuing under the direction of Mr. William Ellis, business manager and assistant treasurer of the college, the business office again had full control over all business matters affecting the college. An important part of the work of this office was the supervision of the maintenance of all college buildings and the regulation of student labor. When Mr. Joseph Yeager, who had been bookkeeper for the past several years, left Alma this spring to assume a position in another city, his work was taken over by Miss Virginia Tice assisted by Miss Joyce Garberson. PRESIDENT DUNNING AND MR. ELLIS' OFFICES 20