Pepperdine University - Promenade Yearbook (Malibu, CA)

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(1) Dr. Banowsky talks to students at an informal press conference. (2) Banowsky presents new president Dr. Howard White with his Waves 1 license plate at Convocation. (3) Banowsky talks to an informal press gathering. (4) Dr. Bob Gilliam presents Banowsky with a silver plate from the faculty and staff. news 15

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banowsky completes reign Dr. William Banowsky, after serving seven years as president of Pepperdine University, resigned Aug. 15. The 42-year-old Banowsky, succeeded here at Pepperdine by Dr. Howard White, went on to become president at the University of Oklahoma. He replaced Dr. Paul Sharp who resigned after he suffered a stroke in January, 1978. Banowsk s decision came as a surprise to many, but he felt it was the right one. I’m the kind of person who thrives on a challenge, said Banowsky. It's fundamental in my make-up. He added, I did not seek this job. I turned it down once; it sort of kept coming back. Banowsky noted growth, challenge, opportunity and returning to his roots as the major reasons for leaving Pepperdine. My intellectual curiosity and the rest of me that makes me work is telling me, 'Look, I want to be over there in that arena too,’ where the fellas say,'It's tougher over here, the players play meaner, and the questions are more ferocious.' You've also got to remember I'm not going to the University of Florida or Maine, the Oklahoma native added. I'm going home. Banowsky said it was not easy giving up a job that he has had his own personal expression in. This will probably be the most important contribution I will ever make in my life, the most creative, he said. But it was time to move on, the outgoing chief executive continued. I was getting a little bored. I'm not the kind of guy who is a caretaker. I wasn't meant to preside over anything that's sort of already there. That is not to say Banowsky believes the growth of Pepperdine University is now stagnant. Instead he termed the university an emerging institution. and said Pepperdine is struggling upstream. doing a great job, and coming on.” Banowsky felt improvements must come before the university is recognized as a top educational institution. We have an excellent faculty, but it would make them look better if we had a few stars. But that will take money, Banowsky said. He also called for an increase in scholarship money to draw higher quality students, otherwise we're going to be a college where the admission standards will be who can pay the tuition. He retains his religious beliefs, and hopes the value system which separates this university from others will remain intact. But as his past record proves, he said he also hoped more light would be shed on student living. He advocated off-campus dancing, and reduced required chapel to one day a week. On the issue of dorm visitation rights, Banowsky again felt the old rules need changing. I've said to all my colleagues, 'What is this? Let them go visit or whatever they're talking about.’ I'm not for coeducational dorms, but I think a little more light ought to come in on that point, said the outgoing president. Banowsky felt there is light though, and admitted, Anybody can do pretty much what he wants to around here-l think we all know that. Other problems Banowsky concerned himself with while at Pepperdine included changing George Pepperdine’s founding charter that excluded from the Board of Regents anyone who was not a Church of Christ member. Although Banowsky left the head position, he remains an active member of the Regents. He said he hoped to return often to speak at Convocation, and involve himself with Seaver College activities. Banowsky said the thought of leaving Pepperdine saddened him because he loved the university and its students. You (the students) are the human be ings that populated my dream.” 14 news

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howard a. white Dr. Howard A. White was unanimously elected president of Pepperdine University by the Board of Regents shortly after the fall trimester began. I hardly expected the nomination, said White. I do not fancy myself a Bill Banowsky. His predecessor, Dr. William Banowsky, was in White's words a charismatic individual. Banowsky was also noted for his direction toward liberalism at Pepperdine University. After his election, White announced that he would be focusing more on academic goals for the university, claiming that if we do not maintain our heritage there is really no excuse to maintain this institution. Academic quality has climbed, he said, since the founding of the university. With our limited enrollment here we can become more selective each year. In efforts to sustain a fine faculty” salaries have increased 27 percent during the past two years and he added that more needs to be done. In choosing faculty. White said that Pepperdine seeks to obtain those who fit the goals of the institution. Although White is conservative in his advocation of university policy, he does express the need to be open and receptive to new ideas. White served as executive vice president of Pepperdine since 1970. In his eight-year reign he organized what he terms the apple of my eye, the Heidelberg program, and fought for higher standards of education. Among his efforts to achieve these standards was the formation of a committee to investigate grade inflation. His attributes are not as appealing to the many liberal-minded students attending Pepperdine as were Banowsky's accomplishments. However, White took the criticism in stride and said, We have suffered a great loss (by Banowsky's resignation), but we have made the transition with the smallest number of shock waves. White, in signing a two-year contract as chief executive, succeeded Drs. Batzell Baxter, Hugh Tiner, M. Norvel Young and Banowsky. installed 16 news