The Stetson Reporter

ifaMLNwttber < 'Florida's 0ldtsf €olle%$$£ Newspaper''..' . , , , , .JSJJjJT l©#ti Year Nuttber 6 'Florida's 0ldm$ Cotle^i 0wspaper\ Stetson UMws§f^^0$, Florida I.J"M..t Lee to be inaugurated 8th President ■"•""w-ZlW^ .». V.'.* ■ 5 ? Hie climax of this week's inaugural events will come today as H. Douglas Lee is formally taaugta&ted as Stetson's eighth president. tee, who has served m Station's president-elect since June, will be inaugurated at 2:30 today at the Stetson Baptist Church. Stetson students are encouraged to attend this and other inaugural events. "I always had a distinct feel- tng that I would wind up in higher education "Leesaid. "Christian education has been a doifitaaat part of the mission of each institution where I have attended school and where I have chosen to work." A native of Danville, Va., Dr Lee came to Stetson in 1978 as floe president for development, was named vice president for planning and development In 1980, and became executive vice president in 1983. He reeieved a bachelor's degree in English with a minor In business administration tarn the University of Richmond to Richmond, Va., a master of thedksgy degpee and it bachelor of divtoity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, N.C; and adeetorate in religion fcwn the University of Iowa, towa Qty. la. Lee's doctoral studies dealt with Christian ethics and he wm a research assistant to that while at the University of Iowa. As a professor of reHgios at Virginia Interment College, fce taught courses in ethics awl politics, and he originated courses in psychology and religion. Associates say determination is a major characteristic of Lee.- who displays show hte ieak the picture of ©a exhausted long distance The media, sals Doug Lee a 'tesmwithaptan." ButLeetww ho aitetnatiTC. to stealage ptan- sste|| and a lot of hara worik. In its quest to become nattat- ' * Stetson had Since his admtaitetrattot* began, Lee has been tai^ building hi® team of academicians, fund raisers, and i This team and the Stetson faculty, he claims, will adrance the university to one of the top ten of its kind in the nation. tee sees Stetson in a hlghfr competitive environment with limited resources and substantial outside competition. "The state university systems are to a growth posture that is heavily financed with tax dollars. Stetson's task Is to car?® a unique niche in higher ©duea- tSm by focusing attention and mourass on oiar special arens of ac^dflsiic program stremjfth," he made" substantial progress. Twice in twoyrais, the unlranl- ty has been reoogutasd by "U.S. news anci worsen Kffipwt as cm of the top ten universities in the border states. Stetson is also listed in "Mew York Times" education writer Ted Fiske's "Selective Guide to Colleges" and "Best Buys in College Education," and other similar books. Lee says the university has two other strong assets. First, Stetson trustees are commtted to making the university one of the top 10 small universities in the country, 'Their determination wffl help us move the Institution forward," Lee said. "Second, we have a very talented faculty. The faculty wiU be the key to our national ranking. Th©f want to taspswe teaching, scholarly actMty-and , . ,.'*■■ ■t - ■ &**-%*'r%g& 'I* *. i**:^. "?.*.-$'-? Baptists to discuss cutting" funds to Stetson ■, ^^^^4-^^j By MATOT HASTINGS Associate Editor A proposed budget change reducing funds received by , Stetson University will be voted on next week by the Florida Baptist Convention, according to vice president for church relations John Pelham. Pelham said he thought the plan would "probably pass" at the November state convention to be held next week in Daytona Beach. A specialty-appointed eight- member budget and allocations committee proposed a budget formula change that wffl reduce money given to the convention's agencies and institutions by Stetson will experience the greatest loss by the proposed change, receiving $328,900 less to 1989 than this year. The convention has scheduled Stetson to receive $1,258,694 in 1088. Chairman Amos explained the the budget reduction was made in order topayoff the convention's $3.2 million debt with budgeted resources. Annual debt payments of $617,000 are currently funded from the excess income of the convention budget. The committee reported (hat shortfalls in recent years to the convention's anticipated income have made it difficult to meet debt payments. "We can certainly use the money," Pelham commented about the budget reduction, "but because we're part of the Baptist family we'll have to live with it." Pelham said that the reduc tion was recommended as a five-year plan. The committee rerammends a review ©f the budget to three years. "I hope in the thin! year funds wffl once again increase," PislJhasn said, "Florida Baptist Witness" editor Jack Biymer said contributions from Florida Baptist fchurches quadruple the inflation rate to the early 1980's produced funds well above basic Florida Baptist State Convention budget projections. "Funds atsove the basic budget were called the advance budget and were used almost exclusively in Florida," he said. This plan worked until the percentage of increase from churches dropped to the single- digit range," Bramer added. Btymer said the most "devastating" thing to Florida Baptist Convention beneficiaries was "the decision to send part of tlie iraaffl^r la fee adrance budget to — to toiHg m WA Lee to join Stetson University history' By GLENN KINDRED Editor j to the administra- rlon Dr. H. Douglas Lee wffl be giving his ^Inauguration address today immediatfy following the 2:30 service to be held to the First Baptist Church on Woodland' Blvd. directly North of the Campus. When Inaugurated, Dr. Lee will officially become the Elgth President of the oldest private University In the State of Florida. When Stetson was founded in 1883 it was called the Deiand Academy. It was then housed in Deiand Hall which serves today as the office of the Presldentand other key administrators. Defend Hall is listed in the National Historic Register as the oldest building in the State of Florida In continuous use for higher education. By 1887 the small Deiand academy had evolved Into Deiand University. It was then that the final name change of the school occured. Ihe Philadelphia Hat manufac- turer John. B. Stetson established an honorarium for the tfetversity. To show gratitude and honor the Generous gift the name was changed to John B. Stetson University. In the year 1887 the Umver- Mtybeganan affiliation with the churches of the Florida South- em Baptist Convention which has continued ever since. Today Stetson has grown Into aUniversityofnearly3,000 students attending four different