Miami University - Recensio Yearbook (Oxford, OH)

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An interview with C. Rollin Niswonger, Professor of Accoun- tancy, Emeritus. Recensio: What has been Miami's major impact on the business world? Niswonger: Miami's effect has been two-fold.I think our most im- portant effect has been the large number of our graduates who have made successful careers for them- selves, both in regard to economics and to community service. In the first 25 years of the business school's existence, we turned out a number of C.P.A.'s, Vice- presidents, and partners in big eight accounting firms. Over our second 25 years, we've seen several presidents and chairmen of the board. Next in importance, of course, is the number of business text books that Miami professors have written. Former Dean Glos has an introductory business text books, and Professor Seibert also has a marketing text. MY AC- COUNTING PRINCIPLES just sold its three millionth copy this month, and right now I am co- authoring another text. RECENSIO: Could you tell us whether Miami has han an equally impressive record in business re- search? NISWONGER: The research done at Miami has not been as impressive as the record of our graduates. For awhile, we had the Bureau of Bus- iness Research here at Miami, but that has been consolidated at Ohio State University now. Our profes- v Paul M. Green graduated from Miami in 1926 and is now the dean of the bus- iness school at the University of II- linois. sors do research, of course, as the department's annual report shows, but we haven't produced any breakthroughs, to the best of my knowledge. RECENSIO: What are some of the accomplishments of Miami graduates? a NISWONGER: Well, Jack R. Ander- son is president of Hospital Af- filiates International. Robert F. Tenhover is a partner in Arthur An- the whole campus has an influence on our graduates 18 derson and Company, the account- ing firm. William G. Gisel is presi- dent of Bell Aerospace's Division of Textron. A RECENSIO: Mr. Howard, of the Of- fice of Public Information, indi- cated that several Miami business graduates have gone on to law school. What kind of influence have they had? NISWONGER: Considerable. Off- hand I can think of two of our people Who have gone this route. William Shank is counsel for Chemetron Corporation and Lloyd O'Hara is an attorney with Smith and Schnacke in Dayton. We've had quite a few corporate lawyers and people who have a law degree and are working with a law firm.

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pha Phi statue: To help beautify 2 Hub, Alpha Phi donated this .ititled statue in 1974. Hughes: Raymond M. Hughes, honor graduate of 1893, professor of chemistry, president of the university, introduced the artist- in-residence program and in- tramural sports, and lent his name to Hughes Hall. Located at the entrance to South Quad, is the Armillary Sundial. Its axis casts a shadow on the belt of its equator which indicates the hour Stone in front of Bishop: This stone, which sits in front of Bishop Hall, is all that remains of the second observatory ever built in the United States. It was erected in 1838. 17

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GIIIIEIIMMENT Benjamin Harrison graduated in 1852 and was inaugurated as president on March 4, 1889. When Old Main was rebuilt in 1959, it took the name of Harrison Hall. RECENSIO: Finally, Mr. Nis- wonger, is there any way that you could characterize the effect of Miami on its business graduates? NISWONGER: Yes, I think the whole campus has an influence on our graduates. Miami has a tradi- tional collegiate atmosphere that I think has inspired our graduates to be conscientious in their work and to take part in a variety of commu- nity affairs. , - Forrest Houlette For a school established to be separate from the government, Miami certainly contributed its share of governmental figures. Charles Anderson t1833i became governor of Ohio and Charles Har- din, who graduated from Miami is the 1840's, became the governor of Missouri in 1876. 1.1. McRae t18341 was governor of Mississippi from 1854-58, and served in both the Union House of Representatives. and the Confederate House of Rep- resentatives. Robert C. Schenck and Caleb Blood Smith were two of the first members of Miami's Union Literary Society in 1825. Each worked for the nomination of Lincoln at the Republican conven- tion of 1860. Schenck later became a Brigadier General for the North and Lincoln appointed Smith to his cabinet as Secretary of the Interior. Another alumnus, Benjamin Harri- son t1852i was elected President of the United States in 1888. Miami's record as a producer of major governmental figures has diminished since the school reopened in 1885. But Miami has maintained a long record for sup- porting the government in other ways. During the Civil War, Miami provided soldiers for both the Union and the Confederacy. At the outbreak of the war, Ozro Dodds, organized the University Rifle Company. The University Rifles be- came Company B of the 20th Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which saw action at Shiloh. While Company B was fighting, Professor Robert White McFarland trained a Home Guard back on the Oxford Campus. In May, 1862, this group became part of the 86th Ohio Reg- iment. From Miami also came Joseph R. Davis, nephew of Jeffer- son Davis, who became a general officer of the Confederate arrny. In the next century during the fall of 1917, troops again drilled on the Miami campus. This time they were the troops of the University Battalion. The year 1918 also found . several Miami alumni in various service positions. Henry Beckett t191D edited a service magazine at Camp Sheridan. In Paris, Guy Pot- ter Benton was in Charge of the Army Y.M.C.A. John R. Simpson t1899i was a colonel in the Army Ordinance Department. When World War II broke out, Miami took a more active role. Fisher Hall was converted into a .Navy Training School for radio operators. Several faculty members volunteered to teach war emergency courses on the Oxford Campus as well as in Dayton. As President Upham summarized the attitude on campus, College is not an escape from the responsibilities of patriotic citizens . . it is actu- ally a preparation for better ser- vice. Five thousand Miami men and women in service attested to the accuracy of his statement. Miami's most recent effect can best be summed up in the attitudes of the students graduated during 9 the 1960's. Of them, Mr. Having- hurst has said, Involvement was the aim of the most aware and con- cerned, an involvement in the troubled world as well as in the changing university . Their con- cern, whether it be over a lack of student voice in university policy or over the futility of the Vietnam War, demonstrated government. Miami, being an institution seeks the best possible world for them-. selves, helps foster this demand, and is providing graduates who can put their concerns to work in government jobs. - Forrest Houlette 19