Garfield, Bryan Steele, Mike Arave, Lori Memmott (first woman studentbody president) and Bruce Richeson. They were young, impulsive and aggressive but if treated fairly and honestly would make Footnotes 1. Acorn 1947, page 16. 2. Acorn 1947, page 16. 3. Acorn 1959, page 5.good decisions. I have the highest respect and admiration for all of them and it was my pleasure to work with them. Im proud of each of them and their accomplishments. Cause for Celebration Robert B. Smith Sitting at my desk, I gaze at an aerial photograph of the Weber State campus: The midwinter view is from the west at low altitude under a setting sun. The spectacle of locale, the harmonic blend of trademark brick with rocky cliffs, even the clever deployment of asphalt that presents to passersby not a sea of parking stalls, but a greenbelt (or snowbelt) facade, all capture my attention again as if for the first time. I am not alone. Visitors consistently extol the beauty of meticulously maintained, thoughtfully planned grounds and buildings. Backed by the Wasatch Front and overlooking a 180 degree panorama of Ogden, the resurgent Great Salt Lake, and the desert beyond, they give the campus community an uplifting physical environment. This is no superficial asset. Research on the human experience of surroundings suggests an innate attraction to green, grassy landscapes containing water, a trait perhaps sustained through the generations by its benefits to thought and mood. In this light the campus west side, with its mean-dering drive the mystery of winding paths is another attractant deserves its preservation from development. (The same research finds that buildings of more than four stories actually can damage peoples minds and feelings another point to guide campus planners!) The physical features of the Weber State campus also symbolize less tangible aspects of this college in transition. As recent buildings introduce concrete and glass into the previously monolithic brick decor, so new colleagues bring new influences into our midst. As growing trees define spaces and shield against a glaring sun, so a growing sense of academic values stimulates enclaves of excellence and protects freedom to learn. Such currents of change in a mature, healthy organization have made Weber State in its precentennial decade a singularly satisfying place to work. This essay is an attempt to capture in print my experience since joining the College family, reflecting in turn on our environment, our mission, our corporate culture, and our recent history.Robert B. Smith is vice president for Academic Affairs and has been at Weber State College since 1981.