Page 170 - YB1969

Dean of the Faculty It is somewhat disconcerning to realize that one's association with an institution is regarded as sym- bolizing an era. As a student I attended a Western Maryland that was academically puny and socially fifty years behind the times. As a teacher and adminis- trator I have joined with many others to make the College academically strong, though conventional in program and conservative in philosophy. The discon- certing part is the worry that many may be welcoming the end of the era-or more accurately the fear that one's influence may have deteriorated into the defense of the status quo and the delay of valuable innovation. Change and adaptability are the secrets of the vi- tality of institutions, both tangible and intangible. Western Maryland has been fortunate in that the vast preponderance of change has been positively produc- tive. Undoubtedly change should continue, perhaps at rate. If an era is terminating, perhaps an accelerated Dr. John D. AAakosky the happiest symbol for the new age will be the new mind and the new hand in the Dean's office guiding the new era with fresh wisdom and increased energy. 166