Penn State University - La Vie Yearbook (University Park, PA)

Page 19 text:

QEbtnt'n QErIe 51mm Ph.D.. LL.D. a ?Btugrapbical gketcb By WILLIAM FREAK l . 'O'l . . N :1 large institution of higher education, with its thousand or more students and its hundred 01' more teachers, its highly diversified work and ex11'respomlingly e0111plex organization, its great tinaneiztl requirements 111111 large constituency, the presi- dent should possess :1 great variety of talents highly developed. The captain of 21 great passenger steamer must be the master ofw his craft, organize and keep in discipline his utilitters and crew, see that the 11121- chiuery is kept in good repair 211111 is operated elheently 21nd economically, look to his passengers welfare, determine his ship's course, and bring her safely through every storm tn the desired haven. The president of :1 great college 01' university has all these responsibilities, 211111 more. Experience. technical knowledge, organizing- ability, 1111 failing tztct, resolute purpose and genius for e11111111:111d, he needs us much us any other leader 01' men. Upon him ehielly rests, marem'er, the responsibility of for111i11g his institutionls ideals of keep- ing it abreast ml the tithes. :11111 of piloting it through new, uncharted ehzmnels ot progress. .X111eric11 has come to see that higher education is 11s much :1 duty of the e111111111111we11lth to itself, :15 is general e1e111e11t111'y education. The rich promise 111' public henelit', is the reason for the investment of public funds in State mlleges 111111 universities. In such institutinns, the president 11111st'. 1'01'111 definite conceptions of the public values of the various departments of his institutionis wm'k. and must he :1l1le to emwinee the :111111i11istrzttors of public, funds that his Conceptinns are well founded 211111 that he has justly CSl'lIllIllCtl the investments that these de- pui'tnit'nts severally require and will repay. .l11 111:111y respects, indeed, the respm1sihilities of :1 modern college or university president :11'e unalogoiis to the UHCI'UUS cures resting 11111111 the shoulders ml the chief executive of. :1 great modern milwzty system. ,It is natural. therefore, that 2111 concerned in the welfare mi The lite1111syl- 1':111i:1Stiltetiollege, Should feel :1 deep interest in the qtizilitiesof its new president. The qualities of each 1112111 are the products of his heredity. his en- virm1111eiit. :11111 his own will. .It would nut he tilting tn :1tte111pt' in this place 1111 analysis of the persimnl qualities ut- 0111' llnnm'Ctl president. but we deem it appropriate to present :1 fuller zleeimm than has yet been given of the e11- 1'i1'1111111el1ts 01' his childhood, youth and 111:1t111'e1' years. 11ml concerning the