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28. Trying to Do One’s Share
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[28] 000 Trying to Do Ones Share I N 0 U R type of society, which expects many civic and social needs to be met by voluntary means rather than by government action, each able citizen is under some obligation to assume a share of responsibility for this voluntary work. The responsibility increases with the prominence of the citizen and his role in society. In America the college or university president is typically a leading figure in his town, his state, and frequently in the nation. This is certainly true of the president of Indiana University. The home campus is the dominant factor in both the economic and the social life of the community . As the oldest and largest university in the state, Indiana University has such eminence that any man who occupies its presidency automatically becomes a prominent figure in higher education and well known generally. If his personal characteristics and activities further enhance his public recognition, the amount of responsibility placed upon him is very large indeed. The special nature of the era in which I have lived increased the number of civic duties to be performed by volunteers. I speak especially of the time during which we were engaged in several wars that put great strain on the manpower of the nation and that required that every individual invest himself fully in the work to be done. Then came the inevitable years of readjustment after the wars. It has been a period nationally of rapid growth in education and of expanding international obligations-social, political, and cultural. I have cited as examples some of the assignments I undertook outside the state and nation. It seems to me important not to neglect local and state responsibilities that were requested of me. From the beginning, and continuing to this very day, I have tried to assume my share of civic responsibilities first in the local community-to make myself available for committee service, serv- [392] Trying to Do One's Share 393 ice clubs, the Chamber of Commerce, the community hospital, church boards, and other activities as requested. I remember once serving for a number of years with the head of the Chamber of Commerce to promote the economic development of Bloomington. I did this not only because I thought it my duty but also because I felt that development of an industrial sector in the community would make it a more balanced community, a better place for the students to spend four formative years, and would create more employment for the citizens of the community. Not long ago I read a letter to the editor of the local paper in which the writer alleged that Indiana University had always opposed securing industry for Bloomington. Nothing could be further from the truth. Throughout my years with the university I have actively helped in any way I could to secure additional industry for the community, even to the extent of advocating the dedication of a certain amount of university ground for the development of research institutes and light industries. I have also attempted to serve my church in a variety of capacities , on its boards and committees and especially for a long period as a member of the state board of the Wesley Foundation, which supports the student activities of the church in university communities . The presence of student-oriented churches in a university community is of great value. In addition to providing the means by which students may maintain their traditional church relationships , the resident churches with their student-affiliated foundations and ministers are great sources of counseling assistance for students and even for faculty. Very early in my career the Indiana General Assembly created a New Harmony Memorial Commission for the purpose of restoring and readying for visitors the pioneer community in southern Indiana that spawned many interesting scientific and social ideas. I served on this commission for many years until it was terminated by the legislature. Now I serve on a reincarnated state New Harmony Memorial Commission as well as on the board of Historic New Harmony, the private organization that is involved in the work of restoration and preservation in that community. Another example of a state-level association in which I have been active for a similar length of time is the James Whitcomb Riley Memorial Association . While this association has university connections, as its principal purpose is to build, support, and develop the James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children at the Indiana University Medical...