.Weber State College Comment, January 1986, page 2 —Refliections by Dr. Richard Sadler Acting Dean, School of Social Sciences I cannot forget the dedication of my ome years ago I became involved in a_ debate. It was not heated but it was lengthy. Several of us graduate students in history were analyzing the abilities of our professors who were “holding our feet” close to the academic fire. As the discussion turned to the abili| ty to teach among our mentors, one of my colleagues suggested that the best college history teacher he had ex- colleague George Williams who turned to a career in education late in his life and demonstrated leagues to increased learning. Their influence is difficult to President Bradford R. Drake Vice President _ Sharon C. Young Board of Directors | Neal Berube © Margaret M. Conolly Roger W. Cox _ Christopher G. Davis - _ Reid Graser Karen B. Hurst Brent E. Johns Arthur R. Jones Ilene K. Parker — — Frank Storey _ Stanton M. Taylor _ Pat H. Williams Editor _1J. Bond Photographer _ -Kert Kley eee as AAT, CEE 8 AC acrumeein cece OUI ate Mss _ Susan C. Krusell John C. Lofgreen Paul Neuenschwander ( "OMMEN T is published four times each ar: October, January, Apriland June by __ the Department of College Relations, 316 _ Administration Building, Weber State College, Ogden, utah 84408. COMMENT i is mailed to alumni, faculty, — staff, the business community and friends of — the college at no charge. Second class postage paid at Preston, ID. : "POSTMASTER: form 3579 to Alumni Relations-1011 : measure but becomes apparent over time. I remember listening to a lecture by Fawn Brodie in which she remembered fondly her days at Weber College and noted that the doors of learning, particularly in literature, were opened for her by Leland Monson. Who can forget the teaching both in the classroom and outside of it on extended athletic trips by Reed Swenson and Merlon Stevenson. At a recent gathering, I was reminded that not all teaching takes place in the classroom as former students talked of the positive influence of Henry Aldous Dixon on their lives. osophy students respect and care, but urged his fessor of dance in the physical education department. She describes it as “an interesting piece in four contrasting movements.” Quadricinium will be played by Dr. Michael A. Palumbo, director of or- chestral studies at WSC, with percussion assistance by Donald Kneipp. Rusinko will perform a solo dance, terruption of our work. He is the purpose of it. He is the lifeblood of this and every college or university.” Perhaps as important as any other single feature that I’ve learned is that a professor like Helen James in chemistry or Levi Peterson in English serves as an example of a cultured and civilized being, as well as one who questions and challenges with integrity. On a snowy winter day as I was finishing this essay, I asked Tom Burton how he was coming on his final grades in English. He responded by noting he had been grading papers all weekend and all day, and was nearly finished. He wasn’t discouraged nor tired — his dedication to the task of education was apparent. He represented to me the kind of activities that occur on this side of the fence. This tradition of excellence has been ongoing for nearly a century at Weber. choreographed by herself, to the new composition. Gardner will be flown in to conduct the premiere performance of his com- position and will be receive a cash award of $1,000 at that time. “We were very surprised that a composer of his prominence submitted a composition to our competition because he has an international Teputation,” said Rusinko. Gardner, a native of New York, received his musical training at the Julliard School of Music in New York City. He is the founding music director of the Great Neck, N.Y. Symphony and a recipient of the Seligman Composition Prize and ASCAP Awards. In 1979, his Rhapsody for Viola and Orchestra was commissioned by the William Primose Library at Brigham Young University and was premiered at Viola Congress VII. According to Rusinko, the idea for the WSC competition came from a disussion between © rT 6 se SO) ee we A Fr associates to do the same with these words: “a student is the most important person in any college. A student is not an in- Original composition scheduled for performance in music and dance he music department will premiere an_ original composition by Maurice Gardner on January 31, 1986 in the Browning Center Allred Theater. “The composition, Quadricinium, written for solo viola and percussion, was the winning composition in the Composition Competition sponsored by the music department,” said Michele Rusinko, an assistant pro- SS Larry Evans not only treated his phil with herself and Dr. Palumbo on the conflicts of being performing artist in academia. a artist, you are not professionally respected,” said Rusinko. Dr. Palumbo and Rusinko concluded that they should combine his concert and her dance _ performances scheduled for January. “So we began to look for a piece of music that would be appropriate for a viola solo and a dance solo. When no appropriate music was found, we decided to explore the option of having an original piece of music written especially for our purposes,” she said. The decision was made to sponsor a nationwide competition for an original composition that would give WSC national exposure and provide a choice of original compositions for the combined concert. The project was supported by Dr. “The conflicts of what is expected in Sherwin Howard, Dean of the School academia as being very professional and what is expected to be respected in the professional community were the of Arts and Humanities, and Dr. Richard Jones, Dean of the School of basis of our discussion. What is necessary in the professional community is to be a viable performing artist. If The concert will also feature three other solo dances by Rusinko and three other concert viola solos by Dr. you are not seen as a viable performing: Palumbo. Education. le Development Officer Don E. Spainhower 5s Dr. Richard Sadler is acting dean of the School of Social Sciences and will begin his appointment as dean of the School on July 1, 1986. two decades since becoming involved on the teaching side of the academic fence, I've become acquainted with many at WSC who have gone directly to the heart of the matter of teaching including ongoing study and research, an interest in the total education of the student, and class presentations which are challenging and informative, sometimes filled with sadness and sometimes filled with laughter. Good professors stimulate. their students and their col- _ Executive Director Edith Hester __ the “Kissable Lips” contest, are well remembered. Their influence has reached far beyond the classroom setting. Those who listen to, advise and counsel students, who grade blue books, lab assignments and weekly essays and write “love-notes” like “you can do better,” “may I help you,” and “try harder,” have a lasting effect. a mering on cold iron.” Over the past leben State ollege . , Alumni like Orson Whitney Young who judged c Ry champion of public C h tl E or Dello Dayton from Weber State College. This began my exposure to Weber State, a college which continues to be proud of its long term influence on students through dedicated and skillful teaching. Horace Mann, a! campus. George became ill and found it difficult to breathe, yet with oxygen in his office and determination in his heart he didn’t miss a lecture or a consultation with a student. Professors who take their students on field trips like Walter Buss did, or who get involved in campus activities perienced was from another school — education, noted, “the teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to learn is ham- through his actions the place of the student on a college a WOON eee Sc WSCAA services................9 YOURG AIUMNAN «io... 5...... ccc... 9 Weber State has tradition of excellent professors als ie le ete in this issue: Alumnews........................8 Business & Education.........1] ois ss nce sak ose ceoesgse Economic impact..............4 BROT MSHIONS «<<. 3c. uss sas-sgatO PE ING 2.000550 ooo deka Giving and receiving........10 INQUGUFCTION ....:...<0c0sescecee03d I specs ce Ogden: Junction City..........9 RENGGCTIONS. :55<...-. eececs se. 2