Dickinson State University - Prairie Smoke Yearbook (Dickinson, ND)

Page 19 text:

A PRAIRIE SMOKE FEATURE The installation of Dr. R. C. Gillund as the sixth president of Dickinson State College in May as the highlight of the college year. Mrs. Elvira Jestrab. president of the North Dakota Board of Higher Education, delivered the installation address. Dr. Gillund was installed as DSC president by Dr. Kenneth Raschke, commissioner of higher education. Guests were welcomed to an installation luncheon by Dr. Paul Lar- sen, dean of the college: Dickinson Mayor Henry Sehank, and other city and college dignitaries. John Thompson, pres- ident of the college faculty, spoke on behalf of the staff. Tony Jacobs, student senate president, represented the students. John Schuld, alumni association president, presented greet- ings. Installation ceremonies concluded with the president's ball, a semi-formal event which was open to the public. Prior to coming to DSC, President Gillund was the academic dean at Valley City State College. dr. r. c. gillund becomes dse’s sixth president Prairie Smoke interviewed Dr. Gillund at the close of the year for a State-of-the-College Report. Here is the dialogue: PRAIRIE SMOKE: Are there any changes that you as president will make in the near future concerning student life and student facilities? DR. GILLUND: As president, I must contin- ually be alert to the needs of students on the DSC campus. In terms of student life, the installation of phones for the women students, the opportunity for freshmen and sophomore women students to have special privileges the spring quarter are examples of our endeavors to make student life meaningful to the stu- dents. In terms of student facilities, we are concerned that the Student Center continue to be a facility which suits the desires of our students. We plan to devote a large part of the summer in examining all of our facilities: dormitories, classrooms, and the like. Future changes will be forthcoming as the needs of the students are determined and or requested. 18

Page 18 text:

Direction and structure sometimes are found lo offer guidance and frames of thought from which to move through time and space in the quest for answers to questions raised. ADMINIS TRA TION 17

Page 20 text:

The new bookstore is an example of a change that will he effective the fall quarter of 1970. PRAIRIE SMOKE: What is your opinion about the future of DSC? Will it continue to grow as rapidly as it has in the past 10 years? DR. GILLUND: DSC has enjoyed an enviable record of growth in the past 10 years. As one realizes the demographic studies of recent years and studies of birthrate data recently published, it would appear that the high percentage of growth will not continue. North Dakota is having a significant decline of population. This, coupled with the impetus given to vocational education, would lead one to have some apprehension about tremendous growth. Despite the population de- crease, 1 am still optimistic about DSC’s growth. The new programs which become effective this fall will certainly have an impact on our enroll- ments in the future. It is my feeling that a plateau has been reached on our enrollments for the next year or two, but I predict and project a steady growth from that point on. DSC has an outstand- ing reputation and we are giving constant and considerable thought to means of encouraging more high school graduates to attend DSC. PRAIRIE SMOKE: Do you have any long range plans to assist this growth and what are they? DR. GILLUND: Yes, we definitely have long- range plans to stimulate our enrollment. This past year we have experimented w ith little parties after school hours at a number of our area high schools. We are going to expand upon this next year. 1, for one, will visit every school in our area. We are encouraging our Divisions to pro- vide consultant services (clinics, workshops, etc.) to the schools to give evidence of our concern. We will keep the name of DSC continually before the public. I will meet with all of our alumni by regions to seek their continued support in encour- aging students to attend DSC. We have estab- lished a separate news bureau to continually sub- mit news releases to the media. Our plans are so voluminous that to summarize them in a para- graph is difficult PRAIRIE SMOKE: Do you have any plans for construction and building on the campus? If so, when and where? DR. GILLUND: We expect to begin construction of the DSC Stadium this summer, if bids are satisfactory. We have requested, in the next bi- ennium, an addition to Murphy Hall and the Library. We are also requesting a million dollars for student housing. We have legislative permis- sion to construct additional married student hous- ing as need dictates. We are raising funds for a Fine Arts Complex. We have requested addi- tional funds to expand Scott Gymnasium and our physical education facilities. We are hoping to beautify the Mall this summer, weather and funds permitting. We will be constructing office facil- ities in the lower level of Klinefelter Hall during the summer months. We are requesting funds to construct a storage building to replace the un- sightly wooden building behind Scott Gymnasium. 19