The Behrend College -) rL 1 rn e) 1 a 1 I o /le 3 ursday, March 1995 Erie, PA 16563 Vol XLIII, No. 19 Penn State Universit by Brad Park Collegian Staff On September 1, Grahm B. Spanier will become the 16th President of Penn State University. He is succeeding Joab Thomas, who is retiring August 31 after serving as president for five years. Spanier is currently Chancellor of the University of Nebraska- Lincoln. He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees at lowa State University, and later earned a doctorate from Northwestern University. As Chancellor, Spanier has worked to promote superiority in teaching, expand the University's national competitiveness, and create a climate of tolerance and diversity. William A. Schreyer, Chairman of Penn State's Board, commented on Spanier's appointment, "We are extraordinarily enthusiastic about our selection." He continued, "Grahm Spanier is regarded as an imaginative and effective leader in higher education. He has the integrity, the energy, and the vision to lead Penn State into the next century. We are just delighted that we persuaded him to dedicate his talents to our University." Spanier holds many national leadership roles in higher education. He is a member of the Board of Presidents on the Commission for Information Technology of the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges. He also retains leadership positions on the Commission of Women of the American Council on New President to take Education, the NCAA Presidents Commission, and the Joint Commission on Accountability Reporting. Spanier explained what his new position means to him, "For me, this is a dream come true." He follows, "My wife Sandy and I have a special affection and admiration for Penn State and "The opportunity to lead Penn State honors me more than I can say." -Grahm B. Spanier Pennsylvania. The land grant tradition at Penn State is strong and attractive to us. The opportunity to lead Penn State honors me more than I can say." Provost and Dean, Dr. John Lilley commented on Spanier's appointment, "Anytime you appoint a new President, it becomes a very exciting and interesting time. It's also a slightly sad time because you worked closely with the current President, who's leaving." Dr. Lilley also commented on the work he'll be doing with Spanier, "My job is to make sure that he is fully educated in Behread's role in admissions and education." Students reaction towards Spanier's appointment was mixed. Jaime Fenton, 02 DUS, explained that she was not aware of Spanier's appointment, "I was not aware that there was a change." Dave Radell, 02 Meteorology, expressed a general mood of apathy, "I don't believe that Spanier's appointment will have an effect on us." Matthew S. Kincak, 02 Communications, felt Spanier's appointment was a good choice, "Books: PENN STATE-BEHREND-- Libraries today are easier to use than ever before. A few keystrokes on a user-friendly computer and you have immediate references to needed materials. But the move from paper to electronically based information is not always a smooth one, as Dr. Kathyrn Wolfe will explain Wednesday, March 29, at noon as part of the Provost's Speaker Series at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College in her talk "Books: A Dying Breed?" Winner of the Penn State Behrend Council of Fellows Excellence in Teaching Award and an associate professor of French at the College, Dr. Wolfe is concerned that the metaphorical foundations on which libraries were built--books--are being lost in the electronic shuffle. In these times of budget cutting, funding to adequately meet both the "software" and "hardware" needs of libraries is harder to come by. The costs of new technology, compounded by escalating budget areas such as periodicals, which N 3:6 73 INO "I believe that Spanier's past position and the University of Nebraska and his strong leadership qualities will make him a good University President" Jason Troilo, 05 Accounting, does not feel Spanier should become Penn State's next President, "Given Spanier's A Dying Breed?" sometimes take up as much as 70 percent of an organization's library budget, leave little left over for books, she says. "Even the finest libraries in the country are being affected," "The speed and access provided' by computer programs in libraries today is phenomenal." according to Dr. Wolfe. "The speed and access provided by computer programs in libraries today is phenomenal," Dr. Wolfe says. "But what happens when the power goes out? Is there room—physically -.10 ni C 3 office approval of Affirmative Action, as well as other liberal social agendas, I disapprove of his appointment to President of this University. Ido not believe that a University such as Penn State should be a laboratory for social experimentation. I would like to see more emphasis placed on achievement rather than quotas." and financially--for card catalogs to turn to? Will our reliance on microfilm, which disintegrates with time, mean that we can no longer take advantage of the portable nature of books, reading -Dr. Wolfe when and where it is convenient or comfortable?" Dr. Wolfe's speech will be held in the Reed Lecture Hall, Reed Union Building. It is free and open to the public.
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