The Springfield College Bulletin

THE SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE BULLETIN Volume 51, Number 4 The Springfield College Bulletin is pub lished four times per year in September, November, February, and May by Springfield College, 263 Alden Street, Springfield, Massachusetts, 01109 Second class postage paid at Springfield, Maclean Terrace Massachusetts ARTICLES AND DEPARTMENTS Editor 2 The Plight ofPrivate Higher &iucation Kenneth J. Wildes, Jr. '69 President Wilbert E. Locklin takes a "hard look" at the current "condition of private higher education in the United States." Associate Editor Sandra A. MacFadyen '73 7 Another' 'First' 'for Art Linkletter Editorial Contributors The recent Exhibition Gymnastics performance at the Springfield Howard M. Davis Civic Center attracted a sellout crowd of 8,496 persons, and featured Brian J. Ladouceur Springfield College Trustee Art Linkletter as Master of Ceremonies. Photography 8 International Visitors at Springfield Mercury Studio Springfield continues to involve itself in the international community with a variety of activities coordinated through the Doggett Memorial Alumni Director International Center on campus. Vernon W. Cox'44 Alumni Council President 10 The Sports Desk Joseph A. Robitaille '66 Director of Sports Information Howard M. Davis reviews a successful fall season and highlights the winter athletic program. Alumni Fund Chairman Orville H. Emmons '29 12 A Tribute to Warren C. Wade: In Memoriam Dr. Charles F. Weckwerth, Distinguished Springfield Professor of Alumni Trustees Humanics, Emeritus, remembers Warren C. Wade in an euology deli Jane S. Kirk' 56G vered October 10, 1976. Beryl (Kemp) Auwood '63 V. Seeley Romaine ' 50 13 The City Desk A potpourri of news briefs selected to keep alumni current on Spring field's activities in a variety of important areas. ON THE COVER Michelle Lemieux 78 [Hampden, 17 The Classes Mass.], Captain of the SC Women's The traditional report of the classes with special feature material, Gymnastics Team, and Rich Samuels photographs, and current information on members of the Alumni As '77 [Spring Valley, New York], sociation. Co-captain ofthe SC Men's Gymnastics Team, get together with Trustee Art Linkletter prior to the Exhibition 28 Books and Publications performance at the Springfield Civic A collection of recent books and publications authored by Springfield Center, November 13th. grads. I'D M.ss.chusetts f)f Struggle for SurvivRI" Private higher education is in a ''fight for its life. " According to the American Council on Education, more than 300 private colleges and universities have been forced to "close their doors' , or been absorbed by state institutions since 1970-and many more are threatened. The Association ofIndependent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts [AICUM] was established in 1967 to "preserve and strengthen independent private higher education in the Commonwealth, and to help create a climate in which the resources ofprivately supported higher education may be utilized to the fullest extent by Massachusetts citizens and students ... " Dr. Wilbert E. Locklin, a member of the AICUM Executive Board, has long been a proponent of the educational advantages of the private sector through more than 30 years in higher education, including service at the Johns Hopkins University and Springfield College. Herewith are his comments on "the plight of higher education" in an exclusive Bulletin interview. [Editor] It's a fact that private colleges and universities across Therefore, I find that among the corporate entities, their the nation continue to IIstruggle for survival." Is there foundations, their aid to education programs, among alum an end in sight? ni, and among concerned Americans, there is more 2nd I do not believe that higher education will again see the more interest and help in support of quality, and that's a key period of extremely comfortable growth that it enjoyed after word, quality independent higher educaiton. World War II with the GI Bill and the subsequent post-war , 'baby boom" which provided us with millions of collegiate One of the pitfalls offederal programming seems to be applicants every year. As you know, that has leveled off. increased federal intervention into the academic world. There is no longer any GI Bill. Certainly there is no "baby Do you see this federal intervention as dangerous to boom." And, as a result, the Academy for Educational private higher education in years to come? Development reported recently that only 13.4% of the Yes, the marked difference between federal support of 30 nation's private colleges and universities (Springfield College years ago and today was the absence of intervention then, is one of these) were "fiscally sound." Inflation, spiraling and the high degree of intervention now. The point is, the costs, sagging enrollments and increased "competition" government still provided the support 30 years ago without from the rapidly expanded public sector have crippled the this intervention and, therefore, I would hope provide sup community of private institutions so vital to this country port again without the "threat" of interference. To under today. Therefore, I do not see an "end" in sight in the 20th stand the degree of intervention is simply to recognize that century. I believe independent higher education will con the amount of paper work, questionnaires, rules and regula tinue to struggle through the next few decades. tions that we have to deal with today for limited federal support is approximately 100 times what we dealt with three Do you see any progress or positive support for private decades ago for substantial federal aid. According to a recent higher education on a national level? article in Newsweek Magazine, complying with federal rules Yes, I think the greatest improvement in this situation is the and regulations now costs colleges and universities almost increasing number of Americans who recognize that the two billion dollars a year-or roughly equal to that sum democratic way of life is dependent upon a liberally educated raised annually by the institutions through alumni support. electorate. In essence, the 1,600 or so private institutions in Harvard University's President Derek Bok indicated that in the United States are unencumbered-they are free to be in 1974-75, 60,000 faculty man-hours were used to service ventive and responsive to their various constituencies. federal programs, federal requirements, and federal question- 2 naires. President Bok also indicated that the cost for Harvard tively deal with current legislation, seek widespread support to conform with these federal requirements ran from four to for the private sector, and inform the public of the impact of eight million dollars per year. Here at Springfield College, private higher education in the Commonwealth. AICUM, at the difference is comparatively dramatic. I have said in truth this moment, is playing a pivotal role in the creation of a na that I spend about a day a week dealing with federal pro tional organization known as NAICU, National Association grams. I have estimated that our staff at Springfield spends of Independent Colleges and Universities. In November, about 5,000 hours per year dealing with such programs. 1974, the citizens of Massachusets passed a legislative That figure of 5,000 hours per year was far less than 500 referendum which permitted, for the first time, direct hours per year when I began the Presidency here in 1965. So, support of independent higher education in the Common what we are seeking to do is to persuade the Federal Govern wealth. These and other efforts by the independent colleges ment not to immobilize independent higher education by have helped us stay competitive with the burgeoning public seemingly endless requirements of documentation, often in sector. the form of overlapping and repetitive questionnaires, sur veys, and on-site visits from literally dozens of federal agen Then you would say this network of independent insti cies. tutions is critical to the growtb of tbe educational process in tbe State of Massacbusetts and in United We often hear that Massachusetts is a particularly States? uunpleasant climate" for business and industry. Surely, Yes, it is critical not only to the growth of the educational the private sector of colleges and universities in the enterprise, it is critical to the survival of democracy. The Commonwealth represents a IIhidden industry" of moment the United States follows the pattern of Europe, sorts. What support do you see in Massachusetts? Asia and South America, wherein the state controls all Well, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts traditionally has colleges and universities, our democratic process will ranked poorly in the amount of state support to higher edu become terminally ill. Imagine, if you will, a governmental cation. In a recent edition of The Chronicle of Higher Edu assemblage at either the state or the national level wherein cation (October 25, 1976) Massachusetts ranked 48th among the chief executive officer and all the members of his cabinet the fifty states in appropriations per capita for higher educa have been trained at the "state" college; wherein all the tion within the state. It also ranked 48th in appropriations Justices of the Supreme Court have been trained at the per thousand dollars of personal income. We, the private "state" college; wherein all the legislators have been colleges, have carried the educational burden for this Com trained at the" state" college. This is precisely the way you monwealth

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