Ripon College - Crimson Yearbook (Ripon, WI)

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My thoughts are those of a person who happens to be a president — and who prefers being known as a person rather than the holder of an office. The satis- factions that are mine from year to year — the things I remember with the greatest pleasure — are the person-to-person associations with Ripon students. These are what make a tough job eminently worth while — knowing and being known by those for whom this college really exists. Students whom I am likely to know best are the students who are most actively engaged in the life of the college — in com- mittee service, student government, publications, athletics, music, theatre, organized social groups, or whatever. Mutuality of interest leads to mutuality of involvement student to student and student to that real person who happens to be president. With each year, I find more cause to rejoice in those associa- tions. My sincere personal thanks to the Ripon student body for two superb term papers, and a number of fine discussants, in Selfhood Explored Through li- terature ; eight highly effective students on the faculty-student committees with which I work closely; two diligent student assistants in my office; cooper- ative, intelligent officers of the Student Senate and staff members of College Days; at least twenty very thoughtful, responsible majors whom I consulted on tenure cases; the larger number of students who brought their balanced, mature concerns to my of- fice; and many more students who enriched life for Mrs. Pommer and me through plays, concerts, inter- collegiate sports, film showings — and through the pleasures of meeting them here and there on cam- pus. These are a major cause of my enthusiasm dur- ing this first year at Ripon.

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ESTABLISHMENT

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It Is downright un-American to question the ideal of bigger and better. When frontiers, economy, and birth-rate were all expanding there seemed little danger in quaffing the heady draughts of inflation- ary thinking, and America and American higher education have had a dizzying spin since the end of World War II. Even Ripon College, relatively sedate and conservative, has been known to take an occa- sional sip of this exhilarating brew. But this past year for all of us has been one of nursing a hangover in terms of goals, purposes, and implementations, and the fact that others have even worse headaches makes us feel but little better. Perhaps the very best that can come out of all this will be a return to the principle that Ripon's very existence for the last 125 years exemplifies; IT IS INDEED POSSIBLE TO BE BETTER, EVEN IF NOT BIGGER! Ripon College is a beautiful place to be. One can appreciate the beauty of the changing seasons — spring, with its budding trees, lilacs and other flowers; summer, with its lush greenery, and blue skies; autumn, with its glorious reds and golds; and even winter with its snow white covering. But, in my opinion, the people make the College even more beautiful. The enthusiasm and the exuberance of the newly arrived, the more sophisticated approach of those with added experience, the mellowness which come with maturity, and the serenity which comes with additional years, all can be found in the people who comprise Ripon College. Running through all of these qualities, however, are those of friendliness and concern for others which one finds to be quite prevalent among the inhabitants of this campus, and which certainly adds to the over-all beauty. Long may these qualities continue to be found at Ripon.