The University. . . . . . does not belong to the stu¬ dents. It does not belong to the This is a special section eom- faculty. It does not belong to the merorating the service of Pres¬ MICHIGAN STATE NEWS administration, or even the trus¬ ident John A. Hannah to the tees. MSU belongs to the people Univeristy. of Michigan, who established it, STATE who have nurtured it through the long decades, and who con¬ tinue to sustain it. UNIVERSITY -President John A. Hannah East Lansing, Michigan 1. 61 Number 123 resident reviews career at MSU For the past 28 years, John A. Hannah has been to Agency for International Development (AID) marked literally the beginning of the end of an era many people Michigan State University. And while for MSU, as well as the start of a new career for obviously this University is much, much greater than this remarkable man. Hannah talked last week with any one man, the profound influence of Hannah as State News Editor-in-Chief Edward Brill about this president over these years makes the equation at least understandable. University, about his own past, and about the Uni¬ Hannah's appointment to the directorship of the versity's and his own future. can know-how to make it possible for scarce and it was perfectly clear1 that if versity-provided a person with an op¬ I went and got the law degree I would you took over as president of other countries to develop educational in¬ When on portunity to have an effect for the good on have difficulty getting a job. I didn't have lichigan State College in 1941. did you stitutions that will develop their own hu¬ the. lives of more- people than anything much money and I was working my way expect it to grow to a multiversity else 1 could see in society Over the years man resources. This is the first lack in f 40.000 students? most of the world. They can train their through, borrowing money and so on. there have been many many opportunities There were 1700 students. I got a degree : The answer is of course no. One. when own human resources, so that they in turn to do many things, in industry and gov¬ s starting a career, does not look for¬ in one year by taking freshman, sopho¬ can use whatever the nation has in the way ■ ernment and other educational institu¬ ward to its end. so I'm sure I didn't have more. junior and senior courses and pas¬ of natural resources or other opportuni¬ tions. but I had dec ided that 1 would cast preconceived notions of what the Uni¬ ties to carve out more interesting and use¬ sing off courses and went to work for the my lot with Michigan State and I've said iy versity would be like 28 years later. At ful and satisfying lives for their people. University. many times that it was the only job I I've seen it grow from the little agri- that time this was a small school of about This is the basic objective and dedication ever wanted cultural-mechanical college into what it 6.000 students and it has been grow¬ 1 would like to stay on as president of of the whole Point Four Concept. I've """SFT* never heard any criticism of this one. is. It's been very satisfying. It's achieved ing rapidly, more rapidly than any other the institution as long as the trustees a goal, or almost achieved. A great many- institution in the state, at the rate of about The criticisms have all gotten mixed up. want me to. But now time is inexorable 700 students a year and I'm nearing retirement age. anyway, and this is partly due to the policies of people give me much more credit than I deserve. After all what one man can do is President But could we foresee what is now Mich¬ and when I view this particular moment government has followed. They have been inclined in the past to use technical as¬ very limited. If you're going to get any¬ igan State-no One of the interesting in world history. 1 think that the oppor¬ generally use it. we're only talking a- sistance in these other matters to ac¬ thing done in the world you find you have traditional concept of landgrant service things about this University is that it has tunity that the Agency for International to harness the enthusiasm and energy of a bout people who can't vote, and there re-appraised itself every few years and Development has to make, the kind of con hieve a temporary goal in this struggle to society? aren't many any more. But if you're talk¬ it has developed rather logically not only tribution in the world that will not only oe with the Soviet Union It became a con¬ great many people. We've had good boards A: I violently disagree. That's one ol test to see who would build the roads or of trustees, an able and dedicated fac¬ these mouthings that people make. It ing about the disadvantaged, people who its program but in its campus. Of good for America but will make some con¬ have been denied over a long period of it still has a long way to go the dams or something else, losing sight ulty and a fine student body sounds big but it isn't true They mix course, tribution to lasting peace, is very great. I'm overly enthusiastic about Michigan time, economically or racially an op¬ There's nothing ever so good that it of course of the prime objective. Out of several things up. When they talk about I'm not sure that any man can do it. all of it has come the Vietnamese War. State. I make no apologies for it. I think criticizing universities for serving the portunity to get the kind of an education couldn't be better. When the Point Four concept, this notion it's a great institution, it's got a great industrial military complexes they are that makes it possible for them to lift Q: Now as you prepare to leave, what do of lending American know-how to under¬ People have tied this whole business to¬ future if it doesn't make too many mis- themselves in society, of course we have. envision for Michigan State in the developed countries so they could help gether rather illogically. So I would ans¬ generally thinking about research, and the fact that a large fraction of the research This was the role of the land grant col¬ wer a question you haven't asked, if stu¬ future? themselves was new it was a very popular dents or others are critical, they haven't Q: Have students, in your opinion, chang¬ money that is spent by universities now¬ leges when they came into being, when jA I hope that Michigan State University ed that much in 28 years? the disadvantaged of that day were gen¬ > going to go that last mile. It's already But in recent years with the involve¬ thought the question through. There is adays comes either from government oi not anything wrong with the basic concept, A: Oh yes. the worid changes. Students from industrial enterprises where they're erally rural people. ne of the very good universities of Amel ¬ ment in the Vietnamese war which has it's just as sound as it ever was. It's have changed and everything else has looking for answers to production prob Today the disadvantaged people are ia. and it can become better. There isn't been tremendously unpopular, we've seen lems. and inventive devices that will largely black. There are some, of ny reason -why this can't be one of truly- the friends of this idea of helping our economically disadvantaged serve whatever the interests are. whet course. distinguished universities in the world. underprivileged brothers in other parts whites. But they have a much less dif¬ her its military or the manufacture pro¬ This is the aspiration the University has of the world become less and less popular . . and when I view this particular moment in his¬ cessing of a gadget. It's possible for a ficult time than black people. As you for itself for a long period and the goal is so that the staunch supporters of the pro¬ know, for almost 12 years I've been almost achieved and it can be achieved if gram. Senator Fulbright. Senator Mans¬ tory I think that the opportunity that the Agency for In¬ university to prostitute itself, and be¬ chairman of the U.S. Civil Rights Com¬ the faculty and students and friends of the come more concerned with doing busi¬ field. and mariy others have moved away institution will cooperate. and AID has had more and more problems ternational Development has to make, the kind of con¬ ness than it is with building people But mission. I don't keep a diary, but Fat¬ I don't think generally that that's a valid her Hesburgh has been on the commis¬ Q: What prompted you to take the job as Of course most of them have been in the tribution iif the world that will not only be good for criticism. I don't believe it is here. We've sion with me and his secretary tells director of the Agency for International Congress. Its appropriations have been cut me that we've spent better than 500 full Development? and cut and cut and it has problems in its America but will make some contribution to lasting always had the policy of never accepting a research contract or becoming involved days in 11 years away from home base, A: That's a question that requires a com¬ internal operations. plicated answer. First of all I decided to It would be inappropriate for me to say peace, is very great." in a research operation unless it did one with the Civil Rights Commission. So I've given a lot of thought to this and come back to Michigan State University anything about the agency at this stage of two things: unless in it there was the there are two things I hope we'll con¬ .back in 1934 when I was on leave and work¬ because I don't know as much about it as changed and they're going to continue to opportunity to add to knowledge, usually tinue in this University and whatever I ing in the early part of the New Deal days I should I've watched it from the outside. sound from every point of view-it's basic knowledge, something that people sound from the view of the security of our change. I think as a whole this generation can do in the few days I have left here as an administrator in the NRA. a dire¬ Now responsibility in the days and needed to know, or unless it would en¬ my of youngsters on university campuses is to implant them more firmly so that ctor of the poultry codes at an office in weeks ahead is to find what the facts are. country, the economic well being of this courage graduate students. Or if the pro¬ the best crop of young Americans that they will be more difficult to dislodge. Kansas City Mr. Shaw who was then the Of course I've lived long enough to know country, because it's a surprising thing to ject would provide employment and inspi¬ this country has ever produced. Now you ca Number one. the international com¬ most people that a very large fraction of president (of MSU > made a trip to Kan¬ that when you re on the outside, it's easy get awfully irritated with some of the ration, and the opportunity for graduate ponent. I think it's important that we sas City and offered me an opportunity to criticize, and often you find that the all things that are made in this nation that students to go out and get their degrees, contribute to our own standard of living things that happen and some of the things do more than we have done and I'm -not to come back as the secretary of the in¬ things you think you know aren't true. And you could justify it even though it was couldn't be made if we didn't have raw they do. but by and large they re intel¬ talking about involvement out of the stitution. At the same time one of the big before I begin to talk about what's wrong more or less a repetitive process, and materials from the outside. ligent. able and idealistic but dissatis¬ country I'm talking about the inclusion meat packers had offered me an oppor¬ with AID I've got to find out how much of wasn't going to contribute very much in fied. If they'll harness their idealism, in on-campus educational prog¬ tunity to become head of the produce de¬ what I think is true and how much of it's Q: What are your strongest memories of the way of new information. But unless our Michigan State? unhappiness and so on. and be concerned rams of an international component, partment which was the department that myth. with making things better and not destroy¬ the project did one or the other or both, so hopefully 100 per cent of our young¬ had to do with dairy products, poultry- Q: One of the things students have been A: I haven't thought that through. It real¬ we haven't become involved in it ing what we have we're going to come out sters can have some kind of an ade¬ products. and was part of their meat¬ criticizing more and more in the past few ly isn't very important. I've always felt all right. There isn't anything that human Now when you talk about serving this years is the .involvement of universities that today and tomorrow are important- ! industrial complex, of course, society quate notion of the kind of world we live packing operation. The one job was going being do that they couldn't do better. That -in this planet which isn't very large to pay five times what the other would in particular, and the U.S. government in yesterday isn't. I remember this insti¬ is as it is. And it's an industrial soc- on is the only thing that makes for progress and where we're going to have to learn tution when I came here as a transfer and I decided to take the $4,000 a year general, in foreign entanglements. Is there in the world. student from the law school at Ann Arbor to live with the people that are on it. job. because I decided that if a person was any justification to this criticism? Q: Does the University now have a A: I think you have to divide it. I have after Mr. Foreman, who was head of the Q: Do you think there is any legitimacy There may be 700 million Red Chinese, really concerned about making some kind to the charge that today's universities special responsibility to the disenfran¬ and we're still going to have to live with of a useful contribution to the world. I never detected any criticism of the tech¬ Poultry Department, told me that if I chised citizens, the poor white and the came up here and got a degree in agri¬ are serving the so called "military- thought that a role in the administration nical assistance objectives of aid. Every¬ poor blacks? (Please turn to page 4) industrial complex" and that universi¬ culture. he'd give me a job. Of course, of a university-of course it was then one has recognized what I think to be the ties are not serving society within the A: If vou use disenfranchised as we number one emphasis of lending Ameri¬ this was back in the days when jobs were called a college, but it was in fact a uni¬ "... so hopefully IOO per cent of our youngsters can have people give me much more credit than I de- some kind of an adequate notion of the kind of ivorld we live in on ' think as a uhole this generation oj youngsters on university is the best' crop of young Americans that this country "A great many serve. After all, what one man can do is very limited. " to planet, thislearn which isn't very large and where we're going to to live with the people that are on it." have campuses 'ias ever produced. Monday, February 10, 1969 2 Michigan State News, East Lansing, Michigan AVERAGE N? of RESIDENT STUDENTS ON BASIS of FULL YEAR ENR0LLMEN1 Nearly 7,000 students were Robert Shaw, he had experi¬ enrolled in Michigan State Col¬ ence as an administrator in a lege when John Hannah, as New Deal Program and as sec¬ president, conducted his first retary on the State Board of meeting of new staff members. Agriculture. His only earned Before Hannah received his degree was a bachelor's in first honorary degree from his poultry science. father-in-law, MSC President Hannah seeks U' relevance enrollment rose rapidly over but he does attend some events more than As more and more bright students came By RON INGRAM 16.000 in State News Staff Writer 1949. To meet the needs of a varied others. He entertains newsmen and dis¬ to MSU a need arose to give them an iden¬ Improving MSl's academics, athlet¬ and greatly expanding student bodv. Han¬ tinguished guests in the pressbox at home tity. Thus the Honors College was founded ics and physical structure has been the nah urged the organization of MSU basic football games. in 1957 for students who were sophom¬ He also may be seen fre¬ life long goal of John Alfred Hannah. college. the University Col¬ ores with an A-minus or better academic now quently at wrestling meets. which $3 million fund-raising program and for almost all MSU's 12th president, who will be re¬ lege. offering what he called a core of In 1955 during the University's centen- record. a professions while In 1959 MSU's affiliate. Oakland Uni¬ to endow a series of John A. Hannah pro¬ carrying its work beyond Michigan's farms tiring June 30 after nearly 44 years of knowledge to which all persons would ial. Hannah instituted a change in the service to the University. be exposed. name of the school from college to uni- versity. began operations with 570 fresh¬ fessorships was announced. to its cities and to the world. The first of a major series of studies Those goals owe more of their defi¬ Hannah was appointed by President Nix¬ Discussing Hannah in 1966 during the men. Today 5.094 students are enrolled on the present posture of the University nition. expansion and fulfillment to John on Thursday to head the Agency for In¬ celebration of his 25 years with the Uni¬ at Oakland. During Hannah's tenure as president. and its future responsibilities were is¬ Hannah than to any other person. That ternational Development < AID1 versity. a, nationally prominent educa¬ MSU has had many firsts in higher edu¬ Anticipating change in the future. Han¬ nah sued in 1967. These were the Academic achievement combined with federal ap¬ Graduating in 1923 from Michigan tor said that he believed there had been cation. Among these is the opening of appointed a special faculty commit¬ tee to take hard look at traditional Freedom Report and the Committee on pointment by every President from Fran¬ State College, as the school was known more educational experimentation on Kellogg Center for Continuing Education a Undergraduate Education (CUE' Report. klin D. Roosevelt on. have given him an then, with a degree in poultry science. MSU's canpus in the last 20 years than in 1951. Adult education programs in con¬ practices and chart the future of the Uni¬ These l^pve had a major impact of the almost unequaled leadership among the Hannah took a job as an agricultural ex¬ on any campus in the country. He praised tinuing education are now reaching over versity. Out of. this came the combined University since they were published nation's administrators of higher educa¬ tension specialist with MSC the University not only for its willing¬ 300,000 persons in Michigan annually. living-learning concept of such residence halls as Case Hall, the first of this type Under President Hannah. MSU has made tion." With the coming of the Roosevelt era ness to try new things but also for the Also in 1951 came the beginning of the of structure to be built. It opened in 1961. an attempt to provide educational oppor¬ James Denison. director of University and the New Deal in 1932. Hannah went courage to take thei^i out if thev did not first overseas technical assistance pro¬ MSU has nine of these facilities. tunities for disadvantaged minority groups. relations and a friend of Hannah for 22 to work for the federal work. now government in ject. MSU adopted the University of Rvu- Ronald B. Lee named the Univer¬ the MR A program. In 1934 he was offer¬ MSU began its building program in 1945 Recognition of MSU's academic growth was years, spoke of Hannah's strengths. kyus in Okinowa. Today MSU has one of The overall ed the job of secretary of the State Board to provide the physical facilities to house the largest programs in international as¬ came in 1964 when the University was sity's first asst. provost for Equal Op¬ impression he leaves and train the post-war increase in stu¬ admitted to the Association of American portunity Programs and director of the with me is strength in many aspects." of Agriculture, now known as the MSU sistance among American universities. Center for Urban Affairs in 1968. Denison said. "Physically he is a work¬ Board of Trustees He accepted and was dents. The program was intended to reach Other firsts include the creation of the Universities, a select group of 40 Amer¬ ican and two Canadian institutions noted Hannah has had his critics over the 28 horse. thus he has been able to accomp¬ appointed to the post in 1935. $50 million during the first 10 years and College of Communication Arts in 1955. for their years he has been president at MSU. but lish a lot more than the average man. In 1939 Hannah married Sarah Shaw, more than $200 million in the next 20 the first college of its kind. In 1956 a dean graduate, professional and re¬ on his retirement praises come from the "He's an optimistic person. I've often daughter of the college's president. Ro¬ vears. of international programs, the first such search programs. Another advance in educational many people who have been associated heard him say We are where we are and bert Shaw. He became the president of MSU's president believes that inter¬ position at an American university, was con¬ with him for any length of time at this must go on from here.' And he has strong MSC in 1941. replacing his father-in- collegiate athletics are an important part named at MSU. cepts came in 1965 with the creation of Justin S. Morrill University. ethics. He has always measured things up law. of the University. It was under Hannah The University has been a leader in College, a small college within the larger University. It special¬ Madison Kuhn. secretary of the facul¬ by the right kind of people, the wrong kind In 1941 there were 6.390 students at guidance that MSU was admitted to the communications since 1922 when WKAR izes in liberal education and is semi- ties and University historian, defined he doesn't care anything about." MSC. As of fall term 1968. there were Western Conference (Big Tent in 1948. radio received its license, followed by He also helped to get the addition to the autonomous. Since that time two such Hannah's role in the University over the Trustees Don Stevens. Warren Huff and 44.421 students enrolled. These figures WKAR TV in 1954. It was the third edu¬ more colleges. James Madison and years when he said: Frank Merriman all praised Hannah's include the Regional Centers and Credit stadium in 1948. Further additions were cational TV station in the nation. Its suc¬ Lvm^n "In the 1920s when John Alfred Hannah leadership in the University and felt the Extensions of the University made in 1956 and 1957. cessor. WMSB-TV. operates on a unique Briggs. have been founded MSU's medical school got off the ground was new at Michigan State, its presi¬ loss would be of great significance to With the end of the second world war Hannah is a great supporter of all 13 shared time basis with a commercial in 1966 with the admittance of the first dents and many of its faculty and stu¬ MSU. and the return of thousands of veterans. teams MSU fields in intercollegiate sports station. students. The dents were struggling to convert a tech¬ "His departure is the end of the Hannah College of Human Medicine then nical college into a University that would era." Huff said. "We have a real prob¬ was a two year program designed "to give students a better understanding educate at a higher level, more broadly lem on our hands trying to replace him." of the human being, of how he functions physically, mentally and emotionally." and of how he reacts to disease and many Ill other stresses of the student's daily en¬ vironment.'' The medical school has this year re¬ ceived funds to expand to a full four-year i.t degree-granting school. ?%fA' mi 1966 marked the 25th year that Hannah U*v- had been president of MSU. A dinner with 1.200 guests was given in his honor, at In 1948, President Hannah of¬ ficiated the groundbreaking cere¬ mony for the new addition onto Spartan Stadium. Manning the shovels are Robert Young (right), then athletic director, and Biggie Munn, MSU's present athletic di¬ rector. Hannah was presented with li¬ cense plates dated 1855 In honor of MSU's centennial, during which Michigan State College became a full-fledged university. Monday, February 10, 1969 3 Michigan State News, East Lansing, Michigan -V '•••■"■J*- -i f4 * In his advisory roles for govern¬ ment, Hannah has had an opportun¬ ity to travel throughout the world. As asst. secretary of defense, he flew to Korea In 1953 to get firsthand knowledge of the war's progress. There, he attended many briefings like the one at left. At right, In a rare photo of Hannah In his shirt-sleeves, Akhter Hamead Khan, director of the Academy for Village Development In East Pakis¬ tan, discusses with Hannah some of the problems that plague his country¬ men. Hannah-ci hower has expressed high regard for portra Hannah was appointed to the Com¬ This service to the government con¬ By LINDA GORTMAKER Hannah's performance in these assign¬ mission on Civil Rights in 1967 and has tinued under the Eisenhower adminis¬ State News Staff Writer ments. Eisenhower cited one of Hannah's served as chairman ever since. Specu¬ tration when Hannah served as assistant A university president can be a uni¬ achievements as asst. secretary of de¬ lation is that he will relinquish this post secretary of 'defense (Manpower and versity president-period. Or he can be Personnel) Ih 1954 Hannah further fense. in the coming months, especially with led include being a delegate in 1954 and to do the job. a university president and still con¬ "It is not generally known, but he was his appointment to the Agency on Inter¬ again in 1965 to the White House Con¬ In fact. I couldn't think of a better man tribute part of his talents and knowledge helped mold tKe nation's defense system as responsible as any one person for the national Development (AID 1. as chairman for ten years of the U.S. ference on Education. He was also asked in the country to take over this job." he to U.S. governmental agencies and spe- section of the Permanent Joint Board success of the effort to achieve racial Former President Johnson comment¬ a few years ago by Gov. Nelson Rocke¬ said. on Defense. Canada-United States. integration in our country's armed for¬ ing on Hannah's commission chairman¬ feller to serve on a New York state com¬ Sir Eric Ashbv. present vice-chancelor President John A. Hannah chose the ces. both in the ranks and in military ship, said that Hannah "as the first and of Cambridge University, who has worked This group consisted of a five-man mittee to produce a plan for saving the second alternative during his reign at housing." Eisenhower said at Hannah's only chairman of the U.S. Commission on with Hannah in various educational pro¬ American section of a ten-man agency private colleges from being overwhelmed MSU. His "outside" work ranged from Civil Rights." has "laid a foundation of by the publicly supported ones. jects. summed up his experience of deal¬ acting assistant secretary of defense fact for sound and equitable measures to Fortune Magazine, in its May 1967 ing with Hannah in these eloquent terms: under the Eisenhower administration to resolve America's civil rights dil¬ "After I first met him. I said to dissection of MSU. added that Rocke¬ . . . ten years as chairman of the U.S. Comm¬ emma." myself. I'd like to work for that man ission on Civil Rights. From education to defense to civil rights to for¬ The Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, pres¬ feller couldn't have found a more know¬ . only if I never made any mistakes. " ledgeable consultant." and educators Government officials that have worked with Hannah over the eign aid, Hannah's contributions to places other ident of the University of Notre Dame, has been on the commission with Hannah ever Father Hesburgh related some of Hannah's government work to the rea¬ After working with him closely. Ash- by's reactions were: years have highly commended his work than MSU have never ceased. After nearly 44 years since its inception. sons why President Nixon appointed him " I'd like to work for that man even in projects outside the University. "He has been a marvelous chairman," Hannah's first major connection with of service to MSU, he has finally decided to devote Father Hesburgh said in an interview as director of AID. if I did sometimes make mistakes. " " This is a clear case where the job From education to defense to civil government agencies came in 1950 full time to governmental work, but it is doubtful last week. He showed good leadership sought the man. not where the man rights to foreign aid. Hannah's contri¬ when he was appointed by former Presi¬ and was always cool, objective, and butions to places other than MSU have dent Harry S. Truman to the Inter¬ he will be AID director-period. He will probably courageous." sought the job." he said. " There has never ceased. After nearly 44 years of hardly been a year where President national Development Advisory Board. still keep fingers in the educational pie. Father Hesburgh said Hannah's ex¬ Hannah hasn't been surveying some service to MSU. he has finally decided This board formulated policy for the cellence as a chairman resulted in part to devote full time to governmental work, country. When he was in the Far East Point Four Program of technical and from his "free, open and objective dis¬ I saw first hand how well informed he but it is doubtful he will be AID director- economic aid to the underdeveloped cussion of problems." was on underdeveloped countries. " period. He will probably still keep fingers areas of the world. "I doubt if many people at MSU know Father Hesburgh added that AID needs in the educational pie Truman commented on Hannah's con¬ 1966 recognition dinner. how much time he has given to the lots of overhaul and Hannah is the man charged with the responsibility for coor¬ tributions to this group at a recognition "His effectiveness in that quiet battle commission," he said. "Not much pub¬ dinating the defense of the two countries. dinner given for Hannah in 1966 com¬ Hannah deived into more foreign against intolerance clearly qualified him licity has been given to his work. " memorating his 25th year of service to for his next important assignment, the Hesburgh said that "President John F. affairs when jn 1956 he made a survey MSU. of foreign aid programs in the Far East chairmanship of the Commission on Kennedy at first thought -that under his Truman said Hannah's 'effective for the Foreign Relations Committee of Civil Rights." he added. administration the commission should participation in the Point Four program Eisenhower stressed that he was proud have a Democratic chairman. the U.S. Senate. has made its mark on one of the most Former President Dwight D. Eisen- to have appointed Hannah to this position "He was soon persuaded that. Repub¬ critical periods in history."' on the commission and "gratified that my lican or not, John Hannah was by all judgment has been confirmed by the suc¬ odds the best man in the country for the ceeding Presidents who reappointed him job." to the same position. " Other official duties Hannah has tack- Durlng his years as MSU's presi¬ dent, John Hannah has complied an Impressive list of commencement speakers which have addressed count¬ less numbers of graduating seniors. Among the more notable were (coun¬ ter-clockwise) Nelson A. Rockefeller (1951), Richard M. Nixon (1957), Harry S. Truman (1961), Benjamin E. Mays (I960) and Gen. Douglas MacArthur H96IV Monday, February 10, 1969 Michigan State News, East Lansing, Michigan Mrs. John A. Hannah, formerly Sarah Shaw, has literally grown up with MSU. Her father, Robert Shaw, was president of Michigan State College until he retired in 1941. Mrs. Hannah stayed on In Cowles House when her husband succeeded Shaw as president. In 1953, the students paid tribute to Hannah (right) by present¬ ing him with a plaque when he left for Washington to become asst. secretary of defense (Manpower and personnel). The growth and development of MSU has been considerable during Hannah's presidency. An aerial photo (below, left) taken In 1946 of South Campus shows the beginnings of barracks and quonset huts from which the Case-Wilson-Wonders complex sprung. President and Mrs. Hannah have managed to keep their sense of humor during their tenure at MSU. A comment from Durwood Varner, chancellor of Oakland University, apparently struck the couple's funny bone at a 1966 dinner honoring Hannah's 25 years of service as president of the University. U' By DEBORAH FITCH Associate Campus Editor First She has watched MSU grow under the guidance of her husband and says that Lady Speaking of the student body at large, she says that she regrets not being able refl There s a lady on campus who keeps the period of Hannah's presidency has to have closer contact with more stu¬ been " most fulfilling"' to her. dents and her husband's "myth" image. As she is thinking about leaving, she is Christmas gift pointsettias in a small also leaving to MSU a wish for its future: room in her home because they keep Although she looks forward to apartment- "There's always the problem of time." she said. "I'm glad that our home is on "I don't want to see it change too Christmas alive ." hunting with her oldest daughter in Wash¬ much. I want to see it grow strong.'' She gets to be "chief cook " on Saturday ington. she savs the prospect of moving campus because this gives us a feeling night there doesn't excite her as much as it And she has a husband and sons who are would have 10 hears ago. Then I would* have been excited by the during Hannah irrepressabie sports enthusiasts 'she ad mits She that she enjoys fishing herself' was born on the MSI" campus- literally-and has lived here all her life, right on campus. And now she's leaving glamour, but now I know better.'' she said T haven't spent much time in Wash¬ ington. but I know it gives you the feeling of being in the center of things." U' surges era She says that" Hannah's new job will By MITCH MILLER society, one where the role of the college ment. that are radical in some degree or that President Hannah is leav She's leaving because that husband of :• not be anv harder than being president Executive Reporter in education for everyone and in direct pub¬ hers has a new job. And a new home. ing at a time when the I n iversity is being lic service was unquestioned. While the the need of the " Mrs. John A Hannah has had the same of MSU. For the sixth time, a U.S. president has . new ideas are day. challenged as a racist instntution whose stfle Here, he 'Hannah' has done so much tapped John Hannah for service in the fed¬ character of society has changed, his view Ideas come from rren who are dissatis home since 1941. Before that, as Sarah purpose is the oppressi on of minority besides work for the University." she eral government. of the place of the institution of higher fied with the status quo. from men who be¬ Shaw, she lived there, too. groups and the underdeveh >ped areas of the said. "Now. the While he has devoted learning has not. For Hannah, the charge lieve things can be better than they are ...Cowles House, the home of the pres¬ University work has large portions of his world. For he is a man w ho has moved a been eliminated." time to innumerable posts in government, that the University is not relevant to the Ideas come from men with open minds, backwoods cow college t oward the fight idents of MSU. Taking a look at the place that has been education, and foundations. Hannah has needs of society must be profoundly mysti¬ from men who are anxious to discover new Now she's moving to Washington D C against racism: oppressi'on. poverty, di- with her "only home,.'" Mrs. Hannah says that spent virtually all his adult life in associa¬ fying: he has never seen it as an ivory- truth . ." 'Michigan State Chamber of sease and ignorance president Hannah to maintain a she loves the traditional look of the "old tower academic community, isolated from Commerce. tion with Michigan State University. To Lansing. Sept. 20. 1960 > quiet (newi home for my husband'' when the people, especially the poor. he assumes his job as director of the college.'" but i^s "very interested in the many people in the state, the nation and the development oHsouth Campus. " world, he is Michigan State University, It has always been a place "sympathe¬ Hannah Agency for International Development She says that she s always wanted to travel but that the world has come to at Cowles House. She takes ft dim view of "There have always been minorities." student and the voice of public higher education. Under Hannah's leadership, the Uni¬ versity has grown from a predominantly tic . . to the needs of the lowly freshmen from the farm or from a city home across the railroad tracks. We dare not seek to (continued from page one! review our door . gest that some political figure or maybe she said, "but I wonder if these students agricultural school to a colossus among fit ourselves to the pattern of a Univer¬ She s been hostess to Presidents Tru¬ them. They're on this earth. This several of them or someone who has peo¬ Eisenhower and Nixon well really know whatit is they want universities. sity described by a Harvard orator, as a been man. as as ple need to understand an army general or a business ty¬ dignitaries from all over the world. "They are so fixative." It is impossible to tell whether MSU place where nothing useful is taught, and And the second one is this business of coon is the man they ought to look to. would have done so spontaneously. where a man can make a living by digging The the old Committee of 16 report which First of all. he should be an educator. Sanskrit roots." (Conference on Equal Op¬ campus could have grown and remained was adopted by our faculty and our board Beyond that he needs to have a real a middle-sized, parochial state college, in¬ portunity for Higher Education. Washing¬ dedication and conviction with reference of trustees and that Ron Lee. asst. pro¬ ton. D C Jan. 4.1962 > stead of the almost incomprehensibly large . vost for equal opportunities, is begin¬ to the role of education in our society The existence of MSU as a state Univer¬ organization it is today, with its fifteen col¬ ning to implement. It was very easy to The whole course and pattern of our leges and innumerable departments, sity. with its negligible tuition, its almost limitless financial aids and student jobs, come up with the words, but it's very society is determined by what happens schools, programs, institutes and centers, difficult to make them effective. I hope in our schools, colleges and univer¬ makes the charge that it is dedicated to both within and outside of the colleges, to that the commitment the University has sities. A very large fraction of all of say nothing of its extension campuses and serving the purposes of the elite seem made, to making this University do e- our people now go clear through col¬ questionable. programs. vervthing that is appropriate for this lege and university status, and their "The pressures are all in the direction For all of this Hannah must be given sub¬ kind of a university to do. in making it basic dedication and quality and' their of creating an intellectual elite, an stantial credit. And for the drive to upgrade possible, particularly for blacks to de¬ attitudes determine to a degree wffat aristocracy of the mind, a privileged class out at the end the quality of the University, in the face of to make decisions which the mass of Amer¬ velop whatever they have in the way of comes a mostly indifferent public, and a penur¬ potential, so that they can not only make icans would be bound to follow . . . (they > ious and often actively hostile legislature, contributions to society, but to life them¬ The second part of it is the presi¬ must be rejected out of hand, and the pres¬ the credit is mostly his. selves in society, and I won't continue dent can't succeed unless he has the sures tending toward the creation of such The University's involvement in govern¬ an elite resisted at every turn." (American that speech. support of his faculty So our faculty ment programs of all types, ranging from Q: One final unanswerable question. The with the approval of the trustees, have Council on Education. Chicago. Ill Oct. 6. . its connection with the Department of Agri¬ inevitable search is on for your succes¬ been building into the system this rou¬ 1960i. culture through the agricultural extension sor. Without getting into personalities tine that will require faculty consulta¬ Nor has the university been uninvolved program, to its international programs, in or details, are there any special quali¬ tion and it's been with the knowledge of in the problems of the Third World Its the board of trustees and the support of conjunction with the State Department and ties that you feel the University com¬ the Agency for International Development, projects in Thailand. Vietnam. Latin the board of trustees, and I'm certain America and elsewhere have been criti¬ munity should be looking for now in its to its grants from the National Institutes new president? that they're going to ,use it. I think I cized by SDS. bv Ramparts Magazine, and of Health and the Office of Economic- A: First of all. we must recognize that should stop there because I have many by many faculty members-nevertheless, modern university is a big complex times watched what universities Opportunity. has been another of Hannah's the programs demonstrate a commitment a go personal interests. extend organization. There was a time when a through when they change presidents, Some have complained that Hannah has to public education around the and watched what happens when the out¬ world. university president needed to be a been too political, that MSU has developed scholar, and he was usually a preacher going president dabbles in the selection Unfortunately, if the university is to be of his I have said and I into a mere adjunct of the military-indus¬ with long hair and a calm spirit that be¬ successor involved in international affairs, it must trial complex because of his activities. be involved in the corruption, the petty dic¬ haved well in a social setting But it's mean to keep it that I am not going to Without delving into the question of wheth¬ not that kind of world anymore. He still participate in the selection of my suc¬ tatorships. the quagmires that characterize And I'm going to keep out of er this is so. or if indeed there is such a has to have some understanding however, cessor. every country, including our own. his way after he's once selected thing as a militarv-indusrial complex, it is of the academic area of the university Well. safe to say that from John Hannah's per¬ For all of this. Hannah has not neglected which is its real objective. So I think Mr Shaw, my predecessor, happened to spective. the complaint makes little sense, expansion and improvement of the univer¬ right off the bat that an adequate presi¬ be my father-in-law I was always grate¬ because it is simply not within the context sity as an educational institution. dent must come from the academic- ful to him for the fact that he never of his educational world-view. Nor has he been loath to encourage men I'm stepped his foot on this campus for the arena. always irritated when a presi¬ John Hannah grew up in an agricultural with ideas that are not part of the Establish¬ dency falls open and the newspapers sug¬ first two years after I became president.