Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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President Wefald 11

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by Karen Schuler After eleven years, K-State had a new first family. Jon Wefald was selected by the Kansas Board of Regents to succeed Duane Acker as President. Wefald left his position as chancellor of the seven-school university system in Minnesota to accept the new position. He had been chancellor since 1982. The big difference between what I ' m doing now and what I did before is that I ' m right on campus now, whereas in the job I had in St. Paul (Minn.), I was the chancellor of the university system and I wasn ' t on any one of the seven campuses, Wefald said. One of the first things Wefald did when he arrived at K-State was to hire eight recruiters. The recruiters were recent graduates and they went to each high school in Kansas as well as some in Nebraska to talk to students about K-State. Declining enrollment was a problem that he wanted to hit head- on, Wefald said. After that was taken care of he began developing a five-year game plan for K-State. The overall view of K-State is that it should strive for excellence. My goal is to move K-State into the top three in the Big Eight academically and into the top 15 in land grant institutions, Wefald said. President Wefald and his wife, Ruth Ann, were both on campus and tried to make themselves available to students, faculty and staff. They hosted gatherings for the marching band, the football team, volleyball team and several other groups. I feel like we ' re here to work for students, on the behalf of students and faculty, and that we should try to respond to their comments and questions as often as we can, President Wefald said. Jon and I really enjoy it; we enjoy students. I think there is a lot of vitality, enthusiasm and fun that is generated from the students. It ' s hard to sit back and not be a part of it, Mrs. Wefald said. We are trying to reach out to people and get to know them and let them get to know us and feel comfortable with us. Different departments on sent them materials about the University which helped them with the University, President Wefald said. Part of the preparation was getting their children acquainted with Kansas and the University. The Wefalds have two sons, Skip, 17, and Andy, 15. They were really eager for pictures because they had never even seen it. At least Jon and I had the advantage of having been here once, although it was for a very short visit, Mrs. Wefald said. I suppose that the for the two boys would be that they are kind of out of town. I think that ' s a little distracting, especially for Andy, because his friends can ' t just walk on over, President Wefald said. In his spare time, President Wefald read newspapers and books, played tennis and played touch football with his sons. He ' s always rounding up the kids to call their friends and get a team over so they can play touch football, Mrs. Wefald said. Mrs. Wefald spent a lot of her spare time with Skip and Andy. She also liked to read and have some quiet time to herself. As the president ' s wife, Mrs. Wefald tried to tap her own abilities and strengths and put them to use wherever she could to benefit the University. I work with the staff in the office to plan the entertaining that we do and try to plan things that are appropriate and fun like something for the band or things for the team members..., she said. She chaired a steering to build an art museum at K-State and was involved with a rural initiatives group made up of members from each of the colleges. We are trying to find ways to bring resources of K-State to bear on the problems of rural people, she said. Both President and Mrs. Wefald said they enjoyed the University and the people. We like it here and I ' m sure we ' re going to be here for a long time, President Wefald said. Ruth Ann Wefald, wife of President Jon Wefald, spent her first year at K-State making herself visable and available to the campus community. One of the she helped with was designed to bring the resources available at K-State to aid rural families. (Photo by Andy Nelson) President Jon Wefald came to K-State after having served as chancellor of seven-university state system; his appointment was announced by the Kansas Regents in March of 1986. (Photo by Andy Nelson) wefald make themselves at home 10 President Wefald

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12 Presidential Inauguration Wefald accepts challenge of leadership by Erin Erin Eicher Jon Wefald was inaugurated as the 12th president in the 124-year history of Kansas State University Oct. 30 in McCain Auditorium at a ceremony by dignitaries from across the state and nation. It is all of us together who must carry this University I am willing to lead, Wefald said, addressing an audience of more than 1,000 faculty, staff, students and guests. Give me your support, your efforts, your courage, your perseverance and your wisdom, Wefald said. Chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents Frank Becker Wefald with the office of the presidency. The economy of Kansas is weakened, and our problems are many; however, Kansas State University can provide solutions to these problems, I am confident, Becker said. David Schafer, president of Faculty Senate, promised Wefald the support of the your team, in providing an education that will serve as a foundation to solve society ' s more complex problems. Student Body President Steven Johnson, junior in agricultural economics, addressed student expectations of Wefald. When students raise their voices on concerns, do more than hear us talk — listen to what we have to say, and when our concerns are legitimate, do not just agree with us, but support us, Johnson said. Lt. Gov. Tom Docking, representing Gov. John Carlin, said Wefald faces a challenge perhaps greater than any Kansas (university) president in this century, taking over leadership of K-State at a time when agriculture stands in many ways at a crossroads. To meet this challenge, Wefald has reiterated two goals for the University since his first day in office July 1: securing competitive faculty salaries and stabilizing enrollment. As a land-grant university, K-State was mandated to a practical and liberal education for the children of the working class, Wefald said. We aspire to be one of the three best universities in the Big Eight and to be one of the 15 best land-grant universities in America, he said. During his inauguration address, Wefald said the greatest challenge the University faces is to continue to do a good job academically in an era of scarce resources. K-State is more than a technological university. Our land-grant heritage commands us to attend to the problems which scientific and technical advances may inadvertently create, Wefald said. Wefald came to K-State from Minnesota, where he was chancellor of that state ' s seven- school university system. The new president replaced K-State ' s 11th president, Duane Acker, who left the position June 30. President Jon Wefald gives his wife, Ruth Ann, a kiss following a speech she gave at the inaugural day luncheon. The speech stressed the importance they place on the idea of having a close-knit community family. Regent Frank Becker applauds at left. (Photo by Andy Nelson)