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Digital Kenyon: Research, Scholarship, and Creative Exchange The Kenyon Collegian College Archives 2-16-1995 Kenyon Collegian - February 16, 1995 Follow this and additional works at: https://digital.kenyon.edu/collegian Recommended Citation "Kenyon Collegian - February 16, 1995" (1995). The Kenyon Collegian. 474. https://digital.kenyon.edu/collegian/474 This News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the College Archives at Digital Kenyon: Research, Scholarship, and Creative Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Kenyon Collegian by an authorized administrator of Digital Kenyon: Research, Scholarship, and Creative Exchange. For more information, please contact [email protected]. r Volume CXXII, Number 14 Established 1856 Thursday, February 16, 1995 Robert A. Oden, Jr. Named President of Kenyon College By Greg Nock Hallinan '76, a where he first Distinguished Teaching - chair of the I I- News Editor ." i : fi gained profes- Award, voted on by the seniorclass. Presidential sorship in President of Dartmouth James Robert A. Oden, Jr. has been Search Com- 1985. O. Freedman said, "Rob is , Oden a ' named the 17th president of mittee, and a A t brilliant scholar and a gifted ad- Kenyon College by the Board member the )r- of of - .ill. u Dartmouth, he ministrator. He has a rare Trustees. Oden is currently head- Board of served as chair understanding of the aims of lib- master of the Hotchkiss School in Trustee. "That of the depar- eral arts education. He will be an ac- i Lakeville, Connecticut. He impression ... tment of outstanding leader for Kenyon." cepted the position Saturday, Feb. was confirmed religion, and as Since Oden was named head- 1 1, and informed Hotchkiss of his by our subse- the first direc- master of Hotchkiss in 1989, the decision on the morning of Mon- quent talks tor of the school's endowment nearly day, Feb. 13. with him, with Humanities In- doubled to S120 million after a Oden will replace Philip H. his colleagues stitute. His successful capital campaign. Jordan Jr. this July, when Jordan at Hotchkiss leadership po- Oden does not anticipate many retires after 20 years of service to and Dart- sitions at difficulties in the transition to the College. mouth, and Dartmouth also Kenyon. "I feel very at home in the "Rob is a perfect selection for with those who include chair- college environment," he said. Kenyon," said Jordan. "Il'sa won- met him during ing the The change will not be with- derful matchmaking between a his recent cam Committee on out challenges, however. "I'll have college, and a pair of shapers of a pus visit, we Robert A. Utlen, Jr. (photo from Public Ajjairs) Organization to find out what administratve style college's future," referring to both are exceedingly pleased that Rob degrees in religious studies and and Policy and the Committee on people are used to," he said, "and Oden and his wife, Teresa Johnston Oden has agreed to become Oriental languages. At Harvard Admissions and Financial Aid. In then figure out what will be differ- Oden. Kenyon's new leader." Divinity School, he received a 1979, Oden received the school's ent, if anything." "Beginning with our first A native of South Dakota, master's degree in theology, con- meeting with him, the Search Com- Oden is a 1969 Phi Beta Kappa centrating in Near Eastern religions News mittee believed that Rob Oden graduate of Harvard College, and the Old Testament. In 1975, he Briefs possessed the academic back- where he received his bachelor's received a doctorate in Near East-e- m ground, administrative experience, degree in history and literature. languages and literatures from Trustees Approve Budget, and personal qualities we were He attended Cambridge Univer- Harvard University. looking for in Kcnyon's next pres- sity as a Marshall Scholar, Also in 1975, Oden joined the 4.75 Percent Fee Increase ident," obtaining bachelor's and said Cornelia Ireland master's faculty of Dartmouth College, According to President Philip H. Jordan, Jr., the Board of Trustees meeting on the weekend of February 10 and 11 went "very Oden, Jordan Discuss Presidential Priorities welL" By Greg Nock tainly the endowment. "For a col- body a formidable task, because The major decision by the trustees was the approval of the 1995-9- 6 operating budget, retaining "a!! programs intact," lie said. This News Editor lege of this reputation, we could it is not a Kenyon issue, butan issue wish for a larger endowment. for all small colleges and universi- budget requires a 4.75 increase in all fees, which, according to The Kenyon community wel- Money raising is not a goal it' s a ties." Jordan, "is the lowest increase I can remember." The budget will comed its new leader, Robert A. means to an end. I enjoy develop- The new president will also affect "no major changes in staffing," despite the goal of -- keeping .; Oden, Jr., and his family, with a ment work. It's not a necessary face squaring the vitality of a thai old price down, or at least from growing." warm round of applause in Rosse evil for me it is a necessary good. Kenyon education with the new The student activities fee was also raised to SI 50, up S20 from Hall during Common Hour on You are asking people to buy into methods of information technol- the current fee. This change was proposed by student council, and to Tuesday . Cornelia Ireland Hallinan what you believe. I will continue ogy- the student body had the chance vote on this decision. '76, chairof the Presidential Search to accent how good we are the "There are astounding new Faculty sabbaticals were approved by the board, to be an- Committee and a trustee of the whole world needs to know about arrays of information, and ways to nounced at a later date. The trustees also attended a symposium on College, announced that, "After Kenyon," Oden stated. learn," said Jordan. "Kenyon is the hard sciences at Kenyon, with students and faculty reporting on research, eight months the Board of Trust- When asked about his problem-- quite advanced; we are in some various features of their ees unanimously voted to elect solving techniques he said ways a model for other institutions. "Originally, this was only supposed to be a meeting of the Oden." She continued, "this com- that, "slower is better." His style How can we enhance special quali- Executive Committee," said Jordan, "but the trustees felt it would be mittee worked very hard." is a consultative style, he said. "I ties, like our marvelous interaction a wonderful time to come back to campus." Oden spoke briefly about his have made plenty of mistakes, between students and faculty?" The next meeting of the trustees is scheduled for April, experiences, and his personal and because of not taking time; going Jordan predicts that Oden will professional values. "Intellectual tooquickly. Certainly, some prob- also be called on to further define Greek Council Sponsors curiosity," he said, "is what mat- lems need a quick response, but the purpose of a liberal arts college. ters to me. I would trade all the most issues, it's foolish not to take "What should the shape of liberal Upcoming Blood Drive SATs, ACTs, GMATs, for some advantage of resources." education be as we come to a new k-- : way to gauge intellectual curios- "I need to know what folks millenium?" Jordan asked. "What : Kenyon College will be the site for the upcoming American Red ity." He also noted that it is are thinking, and they need to know is the balance between preserva- Cross bloodmobile on Tuesday, Feb. 21. The bloodmobile, which : fortunate that no tool exists to what I am thinking," concluded tion of heritage and inheritance, will be held from 1 1 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Gund Commons, on the comer Streets' Gambier. The is measure "a hunger for learning," Oden. and new ways of thinking and un- of Gaskin and Brooklyn in bloodmobile because it would be too intrusive. In a separate interview, Presi- derstanding?" being sponsored by the College's Greek Council, and is open to the Later, Oden interrupted the dent Philip H. Jordan, Jr. said that Jordan said that Oden is "a general public. seconds, someone in United States needs blood. end of lunch at the Kenyon Inn to Oden is of "very high academic marvelous speaker and articulator Every ten the Donors all bkxid types arc needed at this time; In central Ohio, ; answer questions from the leaders and intellectual distinction." Jor- of the purposes of higher educa- -' of in area ofstudent publications on campus. dan expects that his skills will tion." more than 550 units of blood are needed to supply patients He addressed the issues of transi- allow him to address the issues "He will have many complex hwspiUils daily. requirements arc that a tion again, and said that he feels "at most important to Kenyon. Ac- decisions to make simultaneously, Anyone can donate blood. The primary 17 old, weigh at least 105 pounds and home in a college environment." cording to Jordan, Oden will face so it is difficult to forecast what his person must be at least years health, He recognizes that he must gain a the "daunting task of keeping reactions will be," Jordan said. "We be in generally good set aside the time to give the "gift oflife" on Tuesday. The sense of the most pertinent issues Kenyon sound financially, and re- do seem to be similar in what we Please fifteen minutes. You may make an on campus in order to "figure out maining affordable to young value and enjoy educationally." process takes about one hour and 427-566- 1, Co-Editor-in-C- the Kenyon Student office at hief Activities what battles I face, no place is people of talent and promise." Courtney appointment by calling perfect; what are the cracks?" This includes, Jordan said, a Coughlin also contributed to this United Way Agency.