Pepperdine University - Promenade Yearbook (Malibu, CA)

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E-t m LTJ 1-1 :4 9.4 20 Features By Cathy Noe Change is inevitable, and perhaps one of the best judges of that old saying is one who has actually observed the changes. One such observer is Pepperdine's professor of religion, Dr. Gene Priest, who retired in December of 1988. In 1964, Priest was invited, on the strength of his master's in religion, to teach With students of the '805, Priest believes that the general atmosphere and attitude is one that is more mature as they look seriously for career planning and development. Priest also participated in a major change for Pepperdine: the 1971-72 moving of the campus from Los Angeles to Malibu. As for changes in himself and his teaching, Priesr at Pepperdine. Over the years, he has had the oppor- tunity to witness many changes in the students and their general attitudes. During his first years in the '60s, he remembers strong dichotomy among the student body. On the one hand, there were the family. I've enjoyed working with the colleagues in my division, it's almost like a -- Dr. Gene Priest admits that he is a different man and has a different style of teach- ing than when he first began. When I first started teaching, I perceived work more as a plat- form for delivering facts; 3 basic- ally heavy-content style. My strict style was, in part, due to the at- mosphere of the times, the active and rebellious students, Priest students for social change and activism, and on the other were the students who isolated themselves in academics and work. In the early '703, Priest's perception of students changed as the times did. The students seemed much more career- oriented and practical-minded for the future. They had a lot more concern for the future and what it held for them. Dr. Gene Priest, professor of religion, retired from Pepperdine University in December of 1988. says. As the times changed with the 705, and the atmos- phere became on that was materialistic, he says he tried to present a more value-kind of atmosphere in order to create some balance. In the 803, he extended the values-centered goal style of teaching to a more open attitude in his relationships with his students. Through this, he says he was present not so much to dispense teaching with expertise and knowledge, but to give more meaning to it so that the students would truly learn the material. Besides teaching, Priest has written , or contri- buted to, three books: In 1960, Education Work of the Church, a textbook; in 1980, Governmental and J udicial Ethics in the Bible and Rabbinic Literature; in 1988, he served as editor for Johannine Studies: Essays in Honor 0fDr. F rank Pack. In the near future, he plans to complete a book he left half finished and he wants to put a serious effort into writing. My computer is all fired up, he says. if Priest leaves with special feelings and memories that bring the past alive. One of his fondest memories during his career is his acceptance of the Christian-Bible Teacher Award at Pepperdine. It was unexpected; it touched me, and left a plea ant impression, he says. Overall, Priest looks back at all the changes in himself and at Pepperdine, and he does not regret one thing. I've enjoyed working with the colleagues in my division, he says. It's almost like a family.

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Z O m Z 1-4 M H 41 By Cindy Pazuk Many things have changed at Pepperdine since it first opened in Los Angeles in 1937. But since 1961, one thing tor personl has remained constant. J im Atkinson has been the friendly face in the Foreign Student Office for more than 25 years, and after a very successful career as professor, adviser and friend, he is retiring. He came to Pepperdine, while it was still located in Los Angeles, in 1961 as a professor students he has met throughout his years with the university. A great thing about this office is that you can keep in touch with people from all over the world, Atkinson says. I like knowing that 1, maybe in some way, helped make their time at Pepperdine more memorable. Atkinson hasnlt always remained on campus though. For a year he was a visiting faculty member and professor of English at the university's Year-in- Europe program in of English. After eight years of teach- ing he accepted the position of full- time foreign student adviser. During his time as adviser, he has befriended many students who are just arriving in the United States with no prior knowledge of the customs or My dream would be to see all of the students at Pepperdine become better friends. --Jim Atkinson Heidelberg, West Germany. Though he says he only speaks English fluently, and a smattering of a few others, he manages to communicate with norms Americans take for granted. The tforeignl students go through the Foreign Student Office to be admitted as undergraduates to Seaver College, he says. We provide documents, work, and advising--also we provide friendship. There are more than 650 undergraduates at Seaver College who are non-U,S. citizens. All of them must go through the Foreign Student Office and Atkinson, for their classes. But he has provided much more than simply advising. He trys to keep in touch with many of the kindness. In retirement, Atkinson says he will avoid Mondays as much as possible. One improvement that he would like to see is for the foreign and American students to become better acquainted. I would like to see a greater interaction between foreign and American students, he says. We have a microcosm of the world here, and it's sad that so many people's paths never cross. My dream would be to see all of the students at Pepperdine become friends. Jim Atkinson, foreign student adviser, has served Pepperdine University since 1961. Features 19

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By Duffie Daba When he was an undergraduate more than 50 years ago, tuition at George Pepperdine College was $6 a unit, room and board was $30 a month and student enrollment peaked at around 200. Things sure have changed, Dr. Olaf Tegner says. He should know. Entering as a student in 1934, he has served Pepperdine University for more than half a century. Aside from watching the Malibu campus being contructed, Tegner recalls that he and fellow Classmates earned 25 cents an hour as manual laborers for several of the Los Angeles campus original buildings. While students today fight to get an appointment with a professor during office hours, Tegner says that as a student, We just sat down with them at a baseball game. Tegner compares other small changes for Pep- perdine undergraduates such as daily chapel when he was a student to the present weekly convocation, and the once nice, sit-down, family- style dinner to today's cafeteria rush. He has held many positions at Pepperdine. These include starting the alumni association and serving as manager of athletics, director of publications, pro- Dr- Qtaf Teg'jer, Vice Prestdent for edueationat fessor of history, head of education, founding dean relat'onsj ret'res am: 5? yearfs 0t semge :h1inis- of the Graduate School of Education, which now Pepperdme as a Stu en , pm essor an a - . trator. 1ncludes the psychology school, and for the last s1x years vice president for educational relations. Tegner remembers that he was impressed With facultylstaff dinner. Tegner then received an honor- George Pepperdine's statements about the growing ary doctorate at the Graduate School of Education university. I still believe in the basic mission that it and Psychology commencement , and in June was is a place where students can work their way given an honorary tribute at the alumni banquet. through, he says. Recalling his favorite memory in all of his years at He says he did have plans . Pepperdine IS easy, he of moving on to work at other . it says, I met my wife at the universities, but after adjunct It iS Informal and per- old campus 0405 Angelesi teaching at institutions such as sonalized here, education at a thing we called the the University of Southern is more genuine. - promenade. It was a row Callfomla and abroad in Sw1t- .. Dr. Olaf Tegner of 64 palm trees, and I met zerland and Greece, he her under the fourth one always came back to Pepperdine. north of the dining hall Something was always missing, For the 71-year-o-ld the relationship was different. I missed the interplay administrator, total retirement seems out of the ques- with small classes. Here at Pepperdine I was on 3 tion. He does plan to remain working part time with first name basis with my students. It 1s informal and the alumni program. Tegner hopes to devote his new personalized here, education is more genuine, free time to his outside interest, traveling. He has Tegner says, visited 92 countries and his immediate plan is to make Spring was a busy time for Tegner. In March he it 100. In addition he and his wife, Allie, will visit was honored for his lifetime service at the annual grandchildren and vacation at their home in Sweden. Features 21