University of California Berkeley - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

Page 22 text:

BLUEOGOLD ULL in the face of many diffi- Jj culties and many needs, but in the presence of an inspiring hope, BENJAMIN IDE WHEELER PRESIDENT EMERITUS in clear conviction of my own shortcomings, but in conscious- ness of a readiness, loyally and unselfishly, with such strength as I have, to serve a public cause, I now assume with full sense of the responsibility it involves, the headship of this institution. These words were spoken by California ' s Presi- dent Emeritus Benjamin Ide Wheeler in his in- augural address on October 3, 1899 when he be- came President of the University. In this address President Wheeler pledged himself to the service of the University and throughout his term as president he lived up to his pledge and served this institution, its students, and its interests un- selfishly and loyally. For twenty years President Wheeler held this office and during that time he was the true friend and confidant of every student on the campus. He expressed this ideal of friendship to the stu- dents on the first morning of his presidency, when he said to them: The only thing that is of in- terest to me in a university is men and women ... I want you to find in me to believe from the beginning and throughout, that you have in me a personal friend. I shall regard my mission here a failure if that is not the case. And, needless to say, his mission was not a failure. During his presidency many changes occurred in the University. In 1899 but 2,600 students com- prised the student body, of whom only 1,900 attended the colleges in Berkeley; the faculty included 153 members. At the time he retired, the University had 7,380 students of whom 6,980 were at Berke- ley and the faculty had increased to 583 members. Other changes occurring under President Wheeler ' s administration included the building of California Hall, Agriculture Hall, Boalt Hall of Law, the Campanile, Oilman Hall, the Greek Theatre, Hearst Mining Building, Hilgard Hall. Above all, it was President Wheeler who gave to the University students the self-government which has kept alive the honor spirit in this institution for over twenty-five years. In his description of this system President Wheeler said: Student self-government is typical of the sort of education which serves the purposes of a democracy. It encourages men to the frank, full exercise of popular government, which is a government springing from within a man or within a community, not im- posed from without. In his conception of self-government he particularly stressed the fact that the boards and committees should be made up entirely of students, and that legal forms should be avoided. This plan of self-government reminds us today of President Wheeler ' s words: The one thing that, in my idea, is fundamental in the life of a university is university loyalty I charge you, students of the University of California, be loyal it is worth your while. It is your duty. Be loyal to the University; be loyal to all its parts. The spirit of Benjamin Ide Wheeler still has its influence on the students of the University although he no longer directs its policy as president. His interest in all the students, and his attention to their welfare has made him one of the most beloved men who have ever served the University. 18

Page 21 text:

FACULTY ADMINISTRATION 17

Page 23 text:

BLUE OGOLD THE University of California is indeed fort- unate in having a man of William Wallace Campbell ' s caliber at the helm. In such a great institution of learning as the University of California, the man who guides the destiny of the ship of learning must needs be a man of wondrous understanding and insight as regards student prob- lems and difficulties. Throughout the entire time that President Campbell has been in office, the deci- sions and actions of the President ' s office have met with nothing but the utmost approval from both the student body and the alumni at large. William Wallace Campbell was born of Scotch ancestry in Hancock County, Ohio, 1862. He was a graduate of Fostoria, Ohio, high school and in 1882 he entered the University of Michigan. He received a B. S. in Civil Engineering in 1886. After a short teaching career at the University of Colo- rado, Dr. Campbell was called to the Lick Observ- atory, California, as assistant astronomer. He early became prominent in astronomical circles for his work upon the spectra of new stars and variable stars. By using the Mills Spectro- graph he engaged especially in determining mo- tions of approach and recession of the brighter stars. Dr. Campbell is especially known as the organizer of the D. O. Mills expedition from the Lick Observatory to Santiago, Chile, now known as the Chile station of the Lick Observatory. On the death of the Director of the Lick Observatory the duty of filling the position fell upon President Wheeler and the Regents of the University of California. William W. Campbell was ac- cordingly appointed Director and served until January 4, 1923, when he was elected President of the University of California. Besides holding many executive positions in American scientific societies, Dr. Campbell is the author of numerous volumes on astronomical subjects. He holds the honorary degrees of M. S., Uni- versity of Michigan, 1899; Sc. D., Western Pennsylvania, 1900; Michigan, 1905; Western Australia, 1922; LL.D., Wisconsin, 1902; Cambridge University, 1925- He has been elected to honorary member- ship in the following societies: Royal Astronomical Society, London; Society of Italian Spectro- scopists, Rome; Royal Society of Edinburgh; Paris Academy of Sciences, Paris; Russian National Academy, Leningrad; Royal Academy of Sciences, Upsala, Sweden; Royal Italian Academy of Sciences (dei Lyncii), Rome. President Campbell holds the following decorations: Lalande Gold Medal, Paris Academy of Sciences, 1903; Gold Medal of Royal Astronomical Society, London, 1906; appointed by King Albert of Belgium in 1919 a Commander of the Order of Leopold II, with gold insignia; the Cross of Officer of the Legion of Honor with gold insignia, the Republic of France. The following excerpt from one of President Campbell ' s addresses gives a deep insight into the viewpoint of the man who might well be called the father of the University family. It is a fine experience to accept responsibility from the Associated Students, as a member of one of the editorial boards, as a member of one of the athletic teams, as a member of the Glee Club, as a member of the dramatics or debating group, and to ' make good ' in the opinion of the ten thousand students who are the judge, the jury and the audience combined. WILLIAM WALLACE CAMPBELL PRESIDENT 19