The Michigan Daily - Friday, May 30, 1986-- Page 3
GENIUS OR AUTOCRAT?
New 'U' V.P. arrives
:-, iamid mixed reaction
By JERRY MARKON stereotypical engineer. His initiative ter job with the Federal Government.
James Duderstadt, the University's and vision have pushed the College of Currently, he serves on President
new Vice President for Academic Af- Engineering onto a liberal arts path, Reagan's National Advisory Board,
fairs and Provost, has never lacked and the former dean regrets being which oversees the National Science
ambition. He has risen steadily: from unable to participate. Foundation.
Yale graduate with highest honors in "I feel a little sad to leave - the THE BIGGEST factor in his
1964, to full professor of nuclear most exciting period will be in the decision, says Duderstadt, was his
engineering in 1976, to engineering next 10 years," he says, referring to "conviction that the institution has
dean in 1981. Yet one month after the current review of the college's un- both the opportunity but also the
44 reaching the adminstration's number dergraduate curriculum. challenge of picking up the pace and
1 "two post, Duderstadt sometimes THE REVIEW, triggered by setting somewhat higher targets for
wishes he were back ina classroom - Duderstadt's conviction that today's the performance of its students and
or an engineering lab. engineers need a broader education, faculty."
"I don't think most people go into may lead to increased humanities "That's what I'm good at. That's
academia with the objective of requirements in the college. what I did in engineering. That's what
becoming an academic ad- Recalling his years in engineering I did in my department prior to
4 ministrator," he says. "They go in and his original academic goals, becoming dean, and that's what's
because they enjoy teaching, they en- Duderstadt gets sentimental, "I wish going to be one of my principle rules
joy research." I had had the intellectual ability to over here."
"I miss teaching." have progressed along the normal Duderstadt's self-analysis is con-
POINTING TO the tiny windows in academic route, won the Nobel Prize, firmed by many officials through the
his new office that make him feel and become a world-eminent scien- College of Engineering. They often
"closed in" from campus, he jokes, tist. But very few people can do that." overflow with superlatives in
"If you accept the premise that the He regrets the time constraints of describing his tenure as dean.
brain has two sides, my first five his new job which may cause him to "A tremendous revival has oc-
years as a Dean destroyed the slip behind the fast pace of curred in the engineering college un-
creative half of my brain and 5 years engineering research. And Jim der Duderstadt's leadership. It's
as provost will destroy the analytical Duderstadt hates mediocrity. really been dramatic, says Lynn
half, so I'll be ready for retirement in "PARTICULARLY in my field, it is Conway, an engineering associate
five years." very hard to stay at the top, to really dean.
His bluntness, out of character for be knowledgable, without investing a Conway credits Duderstadt's
most administrators, reflects a significant amount of time in scholar- magnetism with inspiring her to come
straightforward, wired style that can ship and research. I found as a dean to the University last year from the
be considered his greatest attribute or when I had a responsibility for , Xerox Corporation.
Daily Photo by ANDI SHEIIERwhnIhdarsoibltfr6,0
LAjnoJenyilen joy nch o- his worst drawback - depending on students and 300 faculty that it was "I could see how the college was
LSA Berne andLSAseniorBobbyWilensenjoylunchout your perspective very difficult to give priority to my progressing. I could see what Duder-
doors at Charley's while they laugh at students going to classes. Neither He gestures vehemently with his own personal intellectual activity stadt was accomplishing," she says.
are taking classes this spring term. long arms as he speaks, and stares in- You just can't when you've got that "Duderstadt was always in a wired
tently at the interviewer. This inten- kind of community depending on you. and optimistic mood. He seemed like
bssity, combined with an intolerance for And that's true in spades over here. he was always just on his way to do
mediocrity, have led some faculty and "So, unfortunately," he continued something."
students to call him an autocrat. "that professional side of your careei "This tends to bring up the ex-
p AT THE SAME time he appears really has to be cast adrift. That's a citement and confidence of people
fo rm s o01 re c re a t~ (i fl relaxed; leaning back on a couch, feet bridge you burn behind you." around him-and it starts to rub off,"
crossed. He laughs and jokes Duderstadt credits University sheadded.
throughout the interview. He is what President Harold Shapiro with per- When he became engineering dean,
By DIANE KNAUSS our drinks are $1.10 where at other many call a young genius - the blond- suading him to take his new position Duderstadt was faced with a
Rain, rain goaway. places it's $2.75," said Richard haired farm boy from Missouri who despite his misgivings. The pre'iden shrinking budget and declining
The dreary weather inflicting itself DeVarti, the manager of Dominick's. can smooth-talk state legislators and and provost work closely in deter- national rankings for what had been a
upon Ann Arborites the past few STUDENTS ALSO like Dominick's rebuild an entire college within five mining the University's budget nationally-prominent college during
weeks was a poor welcome to sum- because of it's "out of doors" at- years. Que ni ranyonewhoclamsthe 1950s and '60s. The college's
mer. Hut the sun made an appearance mosphere, said LSA junior Jackie The three computers lined up on his that ambition spurred him to take the faculty had grown apathetic, obser-
Saturday long enough to usher i the Sklar. The bar has large porches. desk provide a constant reminder of prestigious post, Duderstadt says he vers said, and the college's long-
unofficial beginning of summer, when "I like Dominick's because it's Duderstadt's background. Yet he is no could have ultimately received a bet- See 'U', Page 11
the city opened its three outdoor more laid back. There's an older
pools. crowd here, and you're not molested
But swimming and sunning will be by weird people," Sklar said.
only one of the things to do this sum- While students agreed on T iton i p sses 1R stateH ouse
mer. When the sun goes down, sitting Dominick's and the U-Club, Good
at one of the city's outdoor patio bars Time Charley's was controversial.
is another popular student activity, Some students loved it, and others By JOSEPH PIGOTT lump payment of $6,724, or a yearly Vice-President for Government
according to an iformal survey, despised it. Parents of Michigan college payment of $1,000. Relations Richard Kennedy was un-
FOR MANY STUDENTS, the U- LSA junior Robin Goldstein said students will be able to guarantee their Room and board costs are not certain of BEST's prospects for
Club during "Reggae' and New "Charley's is the best because it's tuition by investing with the state, un- covered by the bill. passage through the state Senate. He
Music nigh is the best place to be. central to campus. A lot of my friends der a bill passed this week by the Haarvey Grotrian, director of the cited too many unanswered questions
Sitting on the U-Club's patio last come here sot hang out with them." legislature University's Office of Financial Aid, about the bill's operation asa possible
weekend, LSA senior Amy Schultz But another student sitting nearby The Baccalaureate Education said BEST would reduce reliance of reason for its rejection. He did not
andher friends enjoyed the night air, said "There's nothing I like about System Trust (BEST) allows parents students on family resources and specify these questions.
The U-Club plays good dance Charley's." Although she was sitting to pay an estimate $3,000 or $4,000 for student loans for their tuition.
music, and it's the only bar that has outside with a group of friends at the four years of future tuition at state "If it works - and a lot of questions
dancing outdoors, which makes it a lot small tables that surround the barm private and public colleges. Tuition is "WE'VE BEEN watching it with rest on that if - it has to have a
good weather, she said, "I hate the expected to run over $20,000 by the . T. positive impact for parents who want
Dominick's, a spacious, airy people, the establishment, the ser- 2v i at most state schos, r s. sto send their kids to school," Kennedy
building located behind the Law vice...I came here because there is no year exciting and the first of this type said
Quad, was a close second to the U- place else to go." sponsored in the nation," he said.
Club in some students' opinions. WHILE THE BARS were crowded TO QUALIFY a parent of a newborn Grotrian said the bill would slow the
"We get a lot of students here during the sunshine on Saturday, would make a one-time payment of growth of student borrowing. In 1985- A spokesman for state represen-
because of its proximity and it's very Fuller pool, the city's largest public $3,755 or $188 annually, acording to 86, students borrowed loans over $10 tative Perry Bullard (D-Ann Arbor)
economical here. We have the pool boasted about 35 swimmers and state officials. The parents of a 15- billion nationwide to attend school, thought the bill was "excellent," and
cheapest happy hour in town. Most of - Ree -LLERage 5.. year old, for example, could makea the highest amount ever. predicted it would be approved.