University of Iowa - Hawkeye Yearbook (Iowa City, IA)

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TIME was when the president of a college or university had to be a moss-back. It was simply traditional. But, to phrase it in -the words of a modern cartoonist, Them days are gone forever. Today, the president of a university must be more than an edu- cator, lie must have more than a background of learning. In addition to possessing that necessary factor, he must be an execu- tive. He must be a good fellow, ' ' one whom the oft-abused younger generation will admire and revere; and he must be a real man. Iowa ' s prexy answers all of these qualifications. President Walter A. Jessup has endeared himself to every student, frivolous or serious, who has come into contact with this university. For his is the democratic, kindly nature which the student of today loves. This university. What does it mean to us? We point with pride to the splendid buildings and equipment which it has added in the past few years. We are tremendously proud, all of us, deep down in our hearts, of the strides our Alma Mater has taken. But who is responsible for this seven-league boot advance 1 There is one man who has done more for this institution than any other person now connected with it. One man has fought for us, and has ' struggled for a chance to show the world that his confidence in us has not been misplaced. That man dreamed of a university of the future and when he saw his dream come true, he was not con- tent, but started striving for still better facilities for us. That man is prexy. If President Walter Albert Jessup were addicted to self-praise, he might well revamp an old song to read, ' ' I Made You What You Are Today. For he has literally made this university. But he is most assuredly not addicted to self-praise. Prexy, we want you to know that, although we are thoughtless in our every-day hurrying and scurrying, and do not find the time to tell you about it, we are, to express it in our vernacular, strong for you. THE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF TODAY. Twenfy-nne

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PRESIDENT WALTER A. JESSUP Twenty

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The Dean of Men s ROBERT E. RIENOW Dean of Men OMETIME along about the middle of the first semester, it is not uncommon for a freshman to receive a postcard in Hie morning mail. This card is postmarked Iowa City and bears the message: Please call at my office at your earliest convenience. All this is not so terrifying, but when the unfortunate sees the signature, Robert Reinow, Dean of Men, he is aware that there exists a quality known as mental anguish. Timidly he makes his first visit. The secretary, familiar with such events, looks at his card and tells him to wait. It has be- come almost a tradition that in order to see the dean of men, a person must wait. The length of time laken by this procedure involves anywhere from ten minutes to three hours. Only the truly great achieve enough prominence to slip in ahead of a long line. Finally the door is opened and the freshman enters, with fear in his heart and terror in his mind. And then comes the surprise. What a difference from the ogre the freshman expects to see. For sitting behind the broad-topped desk is a perfectly normal man, with a pleasant smile and a kind voice. The freshman is not convinced yet, how- ever, that he will not be criticized. Instead of a severe reprimand, numerous questions are asked. None are harmful inten- tionally; all seek to get to the root of the trouble and if possible find a remedy in seeking. The conversation is not one-sided; it is mutually progressive. A discussion is the result of the conference rather than a lecture. This is the situation which exists at present. Instead of a place where one fears to go in time of trouble, there has developed an idea of creating a service station where aid and advice are given freely and unstintingly. Robert E. Rieiiow, who for fifteen years has been the person behind the desk in the southeast office in the basement of Old Capitol, has gradually developed a feeling that student govern- ment is good. In fact, that it is better than administrative handling of affairs in some instances. He has a hard role to play. He must be at once the confessor, advisor, and disci- plinary officer to the entire group of men students. Generally, however, according to diversified student opinion the new office of Dean of Men is proving successful in render- ing aid to the student today. Twenty-two