York College of Pennsylvania - Horizon Tower Yearbook (York, PA)

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Dr. Miller Reminisces on past 18 years as President of York College

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Contents The Year 6 Faculty and Administration 28 Students 58 Organizations and Activities 82 Sports 106 Past and Present 132 Index 146

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In Retrospect As president of York College, I have received a large measure of pleasure and satisfaction for a number of reasons. Foremost in my memory are the many fine people I have Vk-orked with, students, faculty, staff, administration, and friends in the community. Since a prime ingredient of the College establishment is students, it is to be expected that they would prompt me to recall many activities associated with them I remember the Junior College students when we were on Duke Street as well as those who helped to start the Country Club Road campus. They represented all walks of life with the hopes, aspirations, frustrations, and shortcomings that are typical of any college population. They were eager to help, certainly not always pullmg together, but what segment of society does always pull together ' I remember when we transferred the approximately 11,000 volume library from Duke Street to the library on the second floor of York Hall. The students pitched in with ,eeps, small trucks and automobiles and, in one six-hour day, the job was completed; not in a way that the library staff would have preferred but with appreciation for the students ' help, without pay, in accomplishing a major task without a great loss of time and libr ary services to the students. I remember students ' attitudes during the troubled 60 ' s. Some were wrong in their expectations of the College, but huge numbers were correct. They were willing to sit down and talk over their problems. The administration and the Board were willing to listen and all of us gained through these useful exchanges. The seriousness of our evening session students is a part of my pleasant memories. They are the individuals who, in addition to full-time ,obs, were motivated to improve themselves academically and culturally, thus preparing themselves for greater challenges. The athletic teams are special in my memories because I, too, enjoyed playing sports in high school, college and young adult life. Over the years, these men and women make a tremendous contribution to the College, asking for little, yet giving so much. In nearly every instance their conduct brought respect to their College. The many students and community members who participated in musical and dramatic productions are also close personal friends with whom I have shared many pleasant experiences. The College Choir always seemed to have numbers prepared and were ready to sing at a moments notice. What a great group of ambassadors! We were so formnate to have their interest and dedication. From the beginning I wanted to involve the community in as many of our activities as we possibly could. There is great strength in any college that has a happy town-and-gown relationship. York College seems to have this in abundance. The warm responses of the community to our requests for capital funds, for annual giving and for their willingness to help the College in any reasonable way are major reasons for the progress the College has made over the years. I am proud of the strides made in the development of our Library and other educational resources that support our academic programs and ser .ices. This is what a college or university is all about and my memories are warm and pleasant of these achievements. As I look at the campus complex, with eleven buildings that have been constrticted in the past eighteen years, and knowing that these are used by growing numbers of students and commu- nity organizations, I have a deep feeling of pride. If our colleges and universities are to be successful, they must be aware of changes in the needs of society, generally, and respond to them with meaningful programs and services. The Academic Community is not known for responding quickly to innovation and change, but it is a credit to the York College faculty that many new programs were instituted which provide educational opportunities for those seeking professional study, for place- ment in worthwhile careers, as well as concern for the aged and disadvantaged. I wish I could recall that every decision was reached on a harmonious note. That is not the way it happened. The thing I remember is that decisions were reached and the College is stronger because of them. The competent and dedicated staff members, custodial, maintenance, secretarial, clerical, and administrative, have been splended co-workers in build- ing the College. I remember their support and their interest, and am gratified to have been able to know them and to work with them. To summarize in a few words, the past eighteen years have meant opportunity, ser •ice, satisfaction and, above all, pleasure in having met and worked with so many fine people. Ray A. Miller President February, 1976