Wichita State University - Parnassus Yearbook (Wichita, KS)

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circulation concept seems the solution for Wichita State University's problem of traffic congestion. The proposed perimeter road system will alleviate city-campus vehicular conflicts with a continuous internal connection to all the parking resources. This circular road surrounding the campus will provide not only convenient vehicular movement from parking lot to parking lot, but an easy, free-from-vehicular-conflict walking distance from any point to the core of the campus. All plans suggested are flexible. Any long-range plan such as this one through 1984 must contain enough flexibility to accommodate without undue strain, change in tradition, administrators and faculty, demands from stuents, and demands from the community: for it is these four very changeable parameters that make and shape the University. All of the development plans are based on well-studied statistics. The enrollment projection for 1984 does reflect the leveling off of student enrollment anticipated for the entire nation. The decline in birth rates that began in the late 1950's is accommodated, but the enrollment plan also assumes that Wichita will continue to grow as a metropolitan area. In addition, the enrollment r-, , Y projections assume that more and more adults will return for a variety of educational experiences. The current projection for 1984 is 16,900 headcount students with a full time equivalent of 12,000. To be prepared for the unknown, however, the University planners test the planning options against a possible 25,000 figure. Wichita State University planners do not think of students merely as statistics, however. In all of the construction plans, constant attention is paid to not only the physical needs of students, but the aesthetic ones as well. Under the provision of Design, the physical educational environment of the University is viewed as to how it affects the student. The design objective is to create a campus image which has a positive effect. The challenge is to not only create enough building space, but to create a campus with a definite learning environment. Not just a smooth working environment, but one which invites social discourse and mixing: one which encourages involvement. ,,...-f-1 ., .. W, .. .N tri proposed Liberal Arts Building WSUl27 l r l i

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Candidly Speaking A Conversation with Ahlberg Almost everyone would like to sit down with the president of our university and ask him the many questions that can be directed toward his position. Only a few people, however, have such a chance to visit with President Ahlberg and hear his view on current issues. It was with great interest and pleasure that this writer took that opportunity. W.S.U.'s President knows and understands the University and its community. Clark David Ahlberg was born in Wichita, Kansas, May 23, 1918 and received his A.B. at the University of Wichita in 1939. He continued his study of political science at Syracuse University in the State of New York, earning his M.A. in 1942 and his Ph. D. in 1951. Dr. Ahlberg spent a number of years at Syracuse University, first in the role of student, then as professor, and later as an administrator. In 1968, he returned to Wichita to assume the role of president of Wichita State University. Dr. Alhberg has the personality as well as the qualifications for university president. He is an easy man to talk to and sees the best side of everything and everybody. Despite the barrage of questions, President Ahlberg retained an interest and enthusiasm for each answer. He was soft-spoken, smiling or looking concerned as the situation varied. I don't have a list of dreaded questions. I'm proud of the University. PARNASSUS: As a student here yourself, did you ever think you would be President of this University? AH LBERG: Never, no never, I never thought of being President of anything! PARNASSUS: When did you feel that that would be a role you would like to fulfill? AHLBERG: Well, really much later than you might think. l've been one of those fortunate persons who always enjoy what l've been lucky enough to be able to do. I love Syracuse University. I was very happy there for many years. I had many, many friends and never really thought a lot about leaving. In fact, I had opportunities to leave, including opportunities to be a college president, and I turned them down. But I think as you grow older in a job, you come to the point where you have to decide Is this where I want to spend the rest of my Iife? and Do I want any other kind of experience? I think my wife and I talked about it and decided that maybe I ought not to be so satisfied, and perhaps take a look at some of these opportunities. I think, fortunately for me, lnever expecting itl, I was asked if I had an interest in coming back to Wichita. As it turned out I did, and l fooled the committee into recommending me! PARNASSUS: Good for us! What has been the high point of your years in this position in Wichita? AH LBERG: My reaction is that it's been a great pleasure to be here all the time. There's always unpleasant things, but most of the time I like what I do and am so enthused about the university, the people, the students, that, if I had the money, I'd pay to do it! lt's a little hard to think about highlights--the depth of it was the airplane crash ..... But there are a lot of very good things that have happened and one of them is not necessarily more gratifying than the other. The feeling that we're making progress as an institution, becoming a better, more significant educational enterprise for Wichita people and the area. I'm convinced that we are and that's the main sources of satisfaction. PARNASSUS: Do you consider yourself an educator or a politician? AHLBERG: Well, I see myself as both. I don't think you can survive on a university campus if all you are is a politician. I think you have to have a Ahlbergf29