Simpson College - Zenith Yearbook (Indianola, IA)

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1918 fkestbent STamesi ®29ateon Campbell After the resignation of Dr. Strictland in the spring of 1915, as President of Simpson, the trustees of the college appointed a committee to find a man to become the head of the institution. After a year of investigation, the committee were able to an- nounce the selection of Dr. James W. Campbell as the new President of Simpson College. Dr. Campbell had been highly recommended as possessing the qualities sought for and it was with a great deal of satisfaction that the friends of Simpson learned that he was willing to leave the work in which he was then engaged and come to Simpson. Dr. Campbell had become one of the prominent Methodist preachers of the East but con- sented to come to Simpson because he believed in the mission of the small college and had faith in Simpson as a school. Our President is especially well qualified for the position. He took his college course in Allegheny College, being graduated from that institution in 1893, and later entered Drew Theological Seminary, graduating in 1899. After that he preached at Carry and First Church, Newcastle, in the Erie conference. In 1906 he entered Harvard to do graduate work where he received his Master's degree in 1908. In 1909 he received his Ph. D. degree from the University of Boston. Dr. Campbell spent the last few weeks in the spring, at Simpson, getting acquainted with the situation, and was here most of the summer getting ready for the opening of school in the fall. When school opened his personal interest in every student made him immediately beloved by the student body. During the first few days of school he met practically every new student and made every one feel that he was a personal friend. However, Dr. Campbell has not only won the hearts of the students here at Simpson but he has made friends wherever he has gone throughout the Des Moines conference. A year of his administration is now almost over, and by his personal magnetism and sane administrative policies he has won the confidence and affectionate esteem of the entire student body. The following is a statement of his policy for Simpson’s future: “I believe that high grade students are drawn to high grade institutions and low grade students arc drawn to low grade institutions. You get the kind of students that you appeal to. “My ambition for Simpson’s future is that our standards will be so high that only the better class of students will come to us. This docs not mean students of average mentality are to be discouraged for they can be helped and enabled to do creditable work. It docs mean that willful slackers, indolent and indifferent young folks, will not be happy when they arc here. “I believe that athletics have a large and important place and ought to be recognized as a legitimate part of college life but they must never come to be the main issue or serve any other purpose than that of contributing to the development of noble man- hood and womanhood. “I believe every college ought to be a school of patriotism and that out of our schools there should go men who will lead in both secular and ecclesiastical affairs because they have an insight into truth and a foresight into life’s problems that is not possible to un- educated minds. “I believe a college student has failed to catch the meaning of education if he goes out from the college unaffected by the call to a life of service to mankind.” E. Shaw, ’18. — Himitij 2 fifteen