Purdue University - Debris Yearbook (West Lafayette, IN)

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HE first person with whom the prospective Purdue student comes in contact is the Registrar, Prof. R. B. Stone. All through his university career, the student is never far out of touch with this important office. The mass of detail, so efficiently handled by this office, can hardly be reckoned. Twice each year, three to four thousand students are registered in the university classes in less than three days' time. Twice each year, each of these students has five to eight class grades which must be accurately recorded upon his record. The class schedules must be co-ordinated in such a manner as to cause as few conflicting schedules as possible. Besides all this, the uni- versity catalogue, containing a complete description of all courses offered by the university, is compiled by the Registrar. Prof. Stone may well be proud of the manner in which these and many other duties of the oflice of the Registrar are performed. IKE any large institution, an organization of the size of Purdue University requires the services of a man who knows at all times the exact condition of the insti- tution Hnances. Money has been said to be the life blood of business, and certainly Mr. R. B. Stewart, Controller of Purdue University, must keep his finger upon the pulse of the institution. A university, operated largely upon public funds, must have all moneys wisely spent, and carefully accounted for. Such is the position of Purdue University, and it has fallen to the lot of Mr. Stewart to be the one who says Thou mayest or Thou mayest not. R. W. A. BODDEN holds the position of Auditor of Student Organizations. The need for this office is readily seen by a survey of student activities. At a con- servative estimate, there are fifty student organizations under the supervision of the university. In the course of a year, each of these organizations will collect and disburse an average amount of one thousand dollars. What insti- tution would feel free to place the responsibility of ac- counting for this amount in the hands of a few people who knew only the rudiments of accounting practice? Mr. Bodden, with his knowledge of accounting, helps the various secretaries and treasurers of student organiza- tions to keep their financial house in order. The reports required have a double purpose: first, they furnish an up-to-date financial standing of the organization and, second, they furnish the officers an opportunity to learn about accounting.

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DEAN OF MEN N any large university, the position of Dean of Men, more than any other single office, requires a man with a proper sense of proportion and the ability to deal with those coming in Contact with that oifice with ab- solute fairness and justice. Although he must be able to deal with real offenders with an iron hand, he must also be able to appre- ciate extenuating circumstances, and deal punishment or sound advice as the case merits. Dean of Men M. L. Fisher has proven his ability to fill this exacting office by three years of successful contact with the student body. The student has learned that, regard- less of the question that may arise, he can go to Dean Fisher with the assurance that he 'will be received with courtesy, treated with respect, and given a fair hearing. In an ofiice where the average man would soon gain the disrespect of the entire student body, Dean Fisher remains one of the best- liked men on the university campus. DEAN OF WOMEN HE percentage of co-ed registration at Purdue is continually increasing, and with it increases the importance and magni- tude of the position, so eihciently filled by Dean of Women Carolyn Shoemaker. The lack of centralized dormitories for women students has placed upon Dean Shoe- maker the responsibility of supervising the housing of several hundred people in rather widely scattered dwellings. This task alone would seem sufficient to occupy one person, but it does not limit the scope of the activi- ties of the Dean of Women. The development of the School of Home Economics is largely due to the unceasing labor of Dean Shoemaker, and her knowledge of Dramatics has been invaluable to the sev- eral Dramatic Clubs of the campus. Her present ambition, a dormitory for women, will H11 a longfelt want, and enable her more eiiiciently to direct the co-ed toward the realization of all the opportunities afforded by the university.

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VERY large corporation has its Board of Directors. It is the function of this group, which is elected by the stockholders, to formulate the policies and plans of expansion, regulate the product, and account to the stockholders for the progress of the organization. Purdue University might well be compared to a large corporation. Its stockholders are the taxpayers of Indiana. Its Board of Directors is the Board of Trustees of the university. This Board of Trustees is indirectly appointed by the residents of the state, since they are appointed by the Governor of Indiana. Three of the members of the Board are appointed upon the recommendation of the Alumni Association, and the other six are appointed in such a manner as to give all sections of the state as nearly equal representation as possible. Although the Board of Trustees is a mystery to most students, all that Purdue receives comes from them, and all that Purdue does must have their sanction. The group meets once each semester and at that time transacts such business and promulgates such policies as will be most effective for the welfare of the university. It is easily seen that each member of such a body must be a type of high-minded, public- spirited citizen who has the good of the university at heart. This description applies to the Board of Trustees of Purdue University, which is made up of the following men and Women: David E. Ross, Lafayette, President, James W. Noel, Indianapolis, Vice-President, Mrs. Virginia C. Mere- dith, West Lafayette, Josiah K. Lilly, Indianapolis, Palmer R. Edgerton, Marion, J. Emmett Hall, Indianapolis, John A. Hillenbrand, Batesville, James L. Kimbrough, Muncie, and Robert A. Simpson, Vincennes.