“The gift of dull times is a rarity,” University President Dave Frohnmayer said in his State of the University address on Wednesday. “Those dull times can and do disappear with alarming randomness and rapidity.”
Frohnmayer’s address to the University Assembly touched on topics ranging from intercollegiate athletics to the recent, narrowly averted classified workers’ strike.
“I’m grateful for the settlement that prevented a disruptive strike in September,” he said. “But you and I should be especially grateful for the labors of our classified staff. Thank them, not once, but each and every day.”
The tragedy of Sept. 11 also loomed large in Frohnmayer’s address. Maintaining the open-mindedness and political neutrality of the University in the face of such events is of the utmost importance, he said.
Frohnmayer also addressed the recent economic downturn and its consequences for the University. As the lowest funded school in the Pacific-10 Conference, he said, the University is at a point where it has to think and act differently.
“Gone are the days when the public perception of the University can be discounted,” he said. “The image we project about ourselves is directly and materially related to our ability to acquire resources.”
But he was quick to assure the audience that fundraising efforts would not compromise the integrity of the University through commercialization. He pointed out that private contributions have played a part in University funding for the entire 125-year history of the school.
“Have today’s critics forgotten,” he asked, “that Deady Hall was able to open in 1876 only because private dollars and business donations completed the building when state funding fell short?”
The address seemed to strike the right chord with Assembly members. University Senate President Nathan Tublitz, who had spoken earlier of the need to improve administrative communication, seemed impressed.
“It was a good speech,” he said. “He did a nice job.”
Tim Young, a senior majoring in political science who serves as one of two students on the State Board of Higher Education, called the speech inspiring.
“It was a very thoughtful speech,” Young said. “As complicated as running a University is, he does a good job. His speech covered all the issues.”