Western Michigan University - Brown and Gold Yearbook (Kalamazoo, MI)

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Seated — Miss Myrtle Powers, Frand Hinds, Dr. Harriet Bartoo, Mrs. Elaine Hurst, and Mrs. Bette Barnes. Standing — Merrill Wiseman, Lee Baker, Dr. Leo VanderBeek, Edward Reynolds, Dr. Edwin Steen, Dr. Bettina Carter, Dr. Daniel Jackson, and Miss A. Verne Fuller. the department of BIOLOGY The department of Biology offers courses in general biology, anatomy and physiology, healthful living, botany, and integrated biological fields, each designed to give students a keen precep- tion and appreciation of the delicate balance maintained by all living things, of a world of life. Aside from this general aim, the department places its main focus upon the pre-professional, teaching, and research areas. Staffed by thirteen members, the department offers summer courses and graduate work to those taking further work in the field. Dr. W. C. VanDeventer received his A.B. at the Central College of Fayette, Mo., and his Masters and Ph.D. at the University of Illinois. He came to Western in 1953 and has headed the Biology depart- ment since that time. 28

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the department of CHEMISTRY As the department ' s contribution to education, its goals of instruction are: clear, direct, and accurate expression, in- telligent skeptism of theories and hypotheses, facility in quantitative reasoning, distinction between opinion and fact, curiosity and interest in nature and the mechanisms by which nature operates, familiarity with the great contributions of chemistry to our civilization. To this end, the department of Chemistry offers courses for the training of chemists and as service for the pre-medical, pre-dental, pre-engineering, pulp and paper, medical tech- nology, education, home economics, nursing and industrial art students. It also offers courses in chemistry as part of a science foundation in the field of general education for all students desiring this knowledge. For the future, the Chemistry department is preparing courses leading to the M.S. Degree in Chemistry for the prospective chemists and the M.S. Degree for prospective teachers in high school and junior colleges. Lillian H. Meyer, A.V., M.A., Ph.D., acting head of the Chemistry Department, is in her fifteenth year on the Western faculty. She previously taught at Vassar, Wayne University and Oregon State College. Two of Dr. Meyer ' s books. Introductory Chemistry and Laboratory Manual for Introductory Chemistry, are currently in use at Western. She is now completing her latest text dealing with food chemistry. Shown here are: Top row — Dr. Don Iffland, Dr. Robert Nagler, Mrs. Woodruff, Miss Elaine Zimmerman, and Paul Holkeboer. Bottom row — Lauri E. Osterberg, Dr. Lillian Meyer, Dr. Gerald Osborn, James Boynton, and Lawrence Knowlton. 27

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the department of BASIC STUDIES Western Michigan College has set a goal for the people whom it admits. That goal is that every student should have the knowledge, the techniques, and the desires to live a reflective and discriminating life. The Basic Studies program is one of the principal devices which Western has established to achieve this goal. We at Western believe that a person who expects a degree should have some knowledge, skill, and perspective with regard to the processes of communication, the social sciences, the natural sciences and humanities. These are big areas. One cannot hope to become profes- sionally competant in any of them by taking one or two courses. But the essential aim of Basic Studies is not specialized training, which is the business of professional cur- ricula. Rather, the Basic Studies program attempts to open doors and present ideas. It tries to stimulate healthy self criticism. It proposes to introduce the student to the world of pressures and changes and of endlessly varied problems, and to give some of the most important means of coping with them. £ W Dr. Robert M. Limpus, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., has just completed his tenth year at Western. Previously he had taught at Muskingum College, Michigan State College and South Dakota State College. In the administrative reorganization of July 1, 1956. Dr. Limpus became Director of Basic Studies. He is co- author of Unified English Composition and has writ- ten several articles on the teaching of grammar and composition. His Making Sense in English is cur- rently in use at Western. 29