Stetson Cupola 1978-6-6

STETSON UNIVERSITY, DELAND, FLORIDA Mc INAUGURAL CEREMONY - Dr. Pope A. Duncan, left, receives the Stetson charter from Rev. John Pelham, '50, center, chairman of Stetson's board of trustees, during Duncan's inauguration as the university's seventh president March 10. Chancellor J. Ollie Edmunds presided at the third presidential inauguration in Stetson history. President Duncan Inaugurated Stetson inaugurated its seventh president, Pope Alexander Duncan, March 10 amid traditional academic ceremonies. University trustees, administrators, faculty, students and more than 200 representatives from colleges, universities and learned societies throughout the nation participated in the event. Dr. Duncan's inaugural address centered on issues for higher education, in particular the outlook for the small, private university. "I believe that an institution which grapples successfully with the problem of fragmentation, the problem of values, the opportunity of the adult student and which continues to present a quality academic program in a caring and Christian environment, is not going to be faced with decreasing enrollment or the spectre of bankruptcy," he explained. His four major areas of concern were: emphasis upon general education curriculum combined with specialization in course work, providing commitment to a set of values and help in the students' search for values, increased programs for postgraduate and non-traditional students and response to shrinking student markets and cost inflation. . "I am not frightened by those who would write off the independent college," he continued. "Certainly, some will fail, but not institutions with tradition, commitment, a clear mission, quality and a constituency - and Stetson has them all." University Chancellor J. Ollie Edmunds, '25, the first person to preside over a Stetson presidential inauguration, presided over the third such inauguration in the history of the institution. Rev. John Pelham, '50, chairman of the university's board of trustees, invested Dr. Duncan with the traditional symbols of office, the charter and medallion. Rev. Cornelius B. Davis, president of the Florida Baptist State Convention, delivered the invocation while Dr. Ben C. Fisher, executive secretary-treasurer of the Southern Baptist Convention's education commission, presented the benediction. The university's Concert Choir performed for the service. Dr. Duncan's inauguration climaxed months of planning and preparation by the Inaugural Committee chaired by W. Michael Chertok, university vice- president for development. Two trustees served on the 12-member committee, B. Frank Wheeler, Oviedo, and Wendell Jarrard, Jr., DeLand. cont page 4 Turner Named University Dean Dr. Thomas J. Turner, professor of physics at Wake Forest University, has been named vice-president and dean of the university at Stetson. Dr. Turner will assume his responsibilities on Aug. 1. "I am very pleased that Stetson has been able to secure the services of a person of the personal and academic qualifications of Dr. Turner," Stetson president" Dr. Pope A. Duncan stated in making the announcement in May. "He is not only highly respected by his academic peers, but has demonstrated the kind of educational leadership which caused him to be named to the executive council of the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association," Duncan added. The new .Stetson vice president and dean, 52, has been on the faculty at Wake Forest 4ince 1952 and served as chairman of the department of physics from 1956 until 1973. He served as an instructor in physics at Clemson University from 1947 until 1949 and as an assistant professor of physics at the University of New Hampshire 1951-52. Dr. Turner has served on the executive council of the Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and was on the commission from 1971 to 1977. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society and the chairman-elect of the Southeastern Section of that society. O XI 3 m h 7, r u z "The position Dr. Turner will assume carries responsibilities second only to the president of the university," Duncan stated. "He will be responsible to the president for all of the academic functions of the university, including such support services as library, admissions, records and student affairs," Duncan said. The position of university dean has been vacant since 1967 when Dr. William Hugh McEniry resigned to accept a position as vice-chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The author of 23 papers and articles in the field of physics and atomic research, Dr. Turner was a research continued on page 8 Duncan Voices Optimism in Centennial Year Predictions Expanded relations with Florida community colleges, a major capital funds campaign, closer ties with Florida Baptists and expanded academic programs were ingredients in a package described as "hard-nosed utopianism" by Stetson president Dr. Pope A. Duncan in a January speech entitled, "Where Stetson University Will Be in Its Centennial Year." The speech climaxed the university's Winter Term program and the second faculty colloquium presented that month. Noting the university's centennial year of 1983 as "What is yet in the realm of imagination, but which will be translated into the world of reality," Dr. Duncan listed numerous necessities, dreams and aspirations projected for the oldest chartered institution of higher learning in Florida. "We must expand our relations with the community colleges of Florida," he pointed out. "We must make them aware of Stetson and the quality programs which we offer and persuade them to come our way." Dr. Duncan referred to a planned Cont'd. Page 8