Ripon College - Crimson Yearbook (Ripon, WI)

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DEAN OF THE COLLEGE ROBERT P. ASHLEY Robert P. Ashley, Dean of the College, received his A.B. at Bowdoin College, graduating cum laude with honors in English and membership in Phi Beta Kap- pa. He received both his M.A. and Ph D. from Har- vard University. Dean Ashley has taught English at Portland and Colby Junior Colleges, Harvard Uni- versity, Washington and Jefferson College and the United States Military Academy, West Point. A num- ber of 1ns articles on Wilkie Collins have appeared in Nineteenth-Century Fiction. and other quarterlies and journals. He has also written and edited a number of books on this man and his work in addition to being the author of two historical novels for teenagers: Reb- el Riders and The Stolen Train. As academic dean. Dean Ashley has worked with the student Academic Affairs Committee, and chaired the discussion of “The College as an Academic Com- munity” at the Wingspread Conference held in No- vember. At this time he introduced the possibilities of a Challenge program, which would change the con- vocation program to allow debates and convoca- tions given by the faculty. The main academic project within the next, few years will be the strengthening of the departments now existing at Ripon. This work has begun already. The Dean also works with the faculty in determin- ing the courses required to earn the bachelors de- gree. Here too, much work has been done and is still in process, so that the student, upon graduation, will jKxssess tiie fullest liberal aits education possible in an institution professing Ripens’ academic beliefs. 26

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PRESIDENT FREDERICK O. PINKHAM Dr. Frederick O. Pinkham received his A.15. from Kalamazoo College. He then attended Stanford Uni- versity where he earned his master's degree and doctorate. Both Kalamazoo College and Lawrence College have awarded him honorary L.L.D. degrees. Prior to becoming President of Ripon College, Dr. Pinkham held the positions of Executive Secretary of the National Commission on Accrediting and Assist- ant to the President of George Washington Univer- sity. He came to Ripon April 1, 1955 because “Ripon had a fine past and a good deal of potential for the future.” Dr. Pinkham’s role is three-fold: he is President of the College, the Trustees, and the Faculty. He feels that the purpose of the college is to provide the best education it can, consistent with its philosophy. It is his job to manage, lead and direct the activities of the college to that end. President Pinkham serves as chairman of the As- sociated Colleges of the Midwest and of the Midwest College Council. He is secretary of the Wisconsin foundation of Independent Colleges. He is also a member of numerous other educational commissions. 25

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DEAN OF WOMEN I JEAN VAN HENGEL i ! • David L. Harris, Dean of Men., received his A.B. and M.A. at the University of Chicago and Litt. M. at the University of Pittsburg. His title at Ripon directs his responsibility toward the non-academic, or social aspects of student life, particularly in regard to men students. His assistant in these responsibilities is Dean Lee. Dean Harris functioned at the Wingspread Con- ference, which discussed student social life as part of the total life of the campus, and in particular, the sorority-fraternity system, which this conference recom- mended re-evaluate its purpose and duty towards the college. Dean Harris lias worked and works with the Inter-fraternity Council and individual Greek groups in an effort to help them solve the problems which arise from the system and make their existence more meaningful to the individual and total student body. One of the bigger projects of this past year was the planning of the renovation of the Student Union to make it function more effectively as a campus social center. Dean Harris was also presented this year with much discussion by students on the drinking and hours regulations and liberalizing the school policy in connection to these. Miss Jean van Hengel, Dean of Women, took her B.A. at Lawrence College and M.A. at Syracuse Uni- versity. In her capacity as Doan of Women, she works close- ly with Dean Harris in overseeing the total social situation of the college, and is now assisted by Dean Russell. The move of the five sororities and independents into Johnson Hall, where all upperclass women are now housed, presented Dean van Hengel with her biggest task. The final move brought much relief af- ter the haggling of the last two year's. Becasue of her ground-work, the move was a smooth and happy one. Once safely settled, Dean van Ilcngel, and her as- sistant had the arduous task of working out all the “bugs” in the system, which are the natural con- comitance of any such step. Dean van Hengel works closely with the National Pan-Hellenic chapter and functions as overseer of women’s rush. She also deals with groups and indivi- duals in helping to solve the many problems which are involved in the non-academic aspect of college living. Like Dean Harris, she also is much concerned with student agitation for rennovating the laws and policies which govern student social life, and takes part in the final decisions. DEAN OF MEN DAVID L. HARRIS 27