December 8, 1994
The Record
Page 3
Well-known prof dies at 59
Former Dean of the College, math and philosophy prof mourned
By Mariah Ehlert
Staff Writer
Bob Spaeth, professor of liberal studies, academic dean of St. John's University for nine years, father, grandfather, writer and friend to many, died at age 59 at his home in Sauk Rapids, MN. Spaeth, waiting for a heart transplant, died on Monday, November 28. Spaeth left early from the Greco-Roman program because of problems with his heart.
Spaeth is missed and remembered fondly by many people in the Saint John's University and College of Saint Benedict communities. He made great contributions and was very influential with his students. He contributed greatly to the liberal arts education and the ideals embodied in a liberal arts education. Students and friends alike have fond memories and praise for Bob Spaeth.
"I believe that his hero was Galileo. He truly enjoyed math, philosophy and the sciences. He liked to see how they all fit together... He was like the 20th century Galileo, except he was in an environment that was receptive to his ideas, unlike Galileo. He stressed the importance of people sharing their ideas, learning to find out about the human experience, more so than the utility of a degree. He was the embodiment of a liberal arts education," remarked Martin Perkins, SJU senior.
"I had Bob Spaeth for Math Explorations. It was a fun course, despite the material. He was definitely an asset to the liberal arts education," said Christopher Lindquist, SJU sophomore.
"He was a very friendly prof. He seemed to really enjoy teaching," Michael Sinner, SJU alum, said.
"Ihadhim for'essentials of calculus', andhe made it exciting," commented Darian Westerlund, SJU senior.
Lee Hanley, in the SJU office of Public Affairs, commented,"I've never known anyone who's breadth and humor I've appreciated more."
Sympathy letters from former students were mailed, faxed and written on notepaper to his family. One example of the condolence letters received by Spaeth's family is reprinted below.
Dear Mrs. Spaeth,
Please accept my condolences on the death of your husband. He was my tutor for senior lab in Annapolis in 1974-1975, and my memories of him are clear and strong as with few others. What I especially remember was his clarity and his patience. The material was difficult and the class was often ill-prepared. He never reproached us for not having done any better with our homework; he cheerfully started from where
we were and sought to produce an interesting and worthwhile class from the hand he had been dealt. I learned more than senior lab from him...I give thanks for all the good he did in his life, I mourn his passing and I pray for you and your family in your grief.
Sincerely, Cory Stickney
Another former student of Spaeth's, Karen Cloud, adds in a postscript, "I promised him [Spaeth] to read de Torturele at least one more time (at the end of his sophomore seminar class), so I think now would be a good time."
During Spaeth's years at St. John's as the academic dean, he gave speeches to the incoming first year students. A couple of his speeches focused on the topic of conversation and were published in his book A Dean Speaks His Mind, Exhortations on Liberal Education. In one such excerpt he discusses the importance of conversation for the liberal arts education:
"...Conversation is worthwhile in propor-
Science Center faces renovation
By Chris Sedlak
Staff Writer
The Saint John's Science Center, currently lacking space, is slated for future renovation. All departments, from psychology to physics need more space, especially biology, the largest department in the building.
"The biology department in the Science Center has always been crowded, and in the past three years biology has grown extremely fast," said Cheryl Knox, Faculty Leader and Chair of the Renovation Planning Committee.
Since the Chemistry Department left two years ago, the majority of the second floor has not been used. According to Knox, "most of the second floor is wasted space - it was not adequate for the chemistry department to begin with, let alone adequate for the biology department today."
The space that is used by the biology department is very limited, and therefore is crowded. Some labs have lasted until 9:00p.m. because of the lack of time and space. As well as the lack of lab space for classes, there is not enough space and time
for individual research.
Besides the lack of departmental facilities in the building, there is no space set aside for students. According to faculty members, there is no space for students to relax or study.
"We need lounges and lockers, the building is not at all user friendly - especially for St. Ben's students and men who live off campus, who spend many hours in the building," said Knox.
This summer, the school sent a faculty group to a renovation workshop to learn more about renovation, redesigning, and grant application. The Renovation Planning Committee found a team of architects who have been working in conjunction with a Laboratory Designer. This fall, schematic drawings of the future building/construction process were made.
The total project cost, which includes every aspect of the redesigning and destruction/ construction, is two million dollars (1995 dollars). The school will submit a grant application to the National Science Foundation in March 1995. The faculty and staff believe the two million dollars is well justi-
FROM BUDGET PAGE 1
provide the high quality education that the boards have mandated."
Another factor in the proposed budget cuts are the investment funds of the colleges. Like many investors across the nation, both CSB and SJUhave received little or no return on their investments in the past year, so there will be less to add to the additional revenues of the colleges. Investments of the past decade have been profit-abl e, yet th e expectati ons for the rest of this decade are slightly less favorable.
Of the generated revenues of the colleges, the comprehensive fees paid by enrolled students are the largest- Growth in these fees is expected to be minimal, which means that costs, in addition to the compensation
costs, will need to be controlled in the future*
Compensation costs are those funds which allow for increases in benefit spending and market adjustments in addition to salary increases.The majority ofreductions of compensation costs will come from a passive streamlining of faculty and staff in the areas of early retirement and resignations.
"This would not mean the termination of a lot of people," Ardolf stresses. "If someone retires or resigns, sometimes it is possible to not have to replace them."
The proposed budget cuts will be under review by the finance committees, who will: review and rework the proposals, as well as listen to the concerns and questions of mem bers of the colleges, before their presentation to the governing boards.
fied.
"Everyone, especially the faculty in thebuild-ing is very dedicated and optimistic," Knox said. It should take three to six months for the grant application reply from the NSF. The remainder of the money will be procured from other grants and fundraisers.
All of the funding will be used for the science center alone, and only for the improvement of lab, classroom and student facilities. The Renovation Planning Committee wants students and others to know that the money is not going to be used where it is not needed.
"We're not going to 'plush-out' offices; in fact we're not going to get plush anything. This is a matter of practicality and education; this is for the students," Knox explained.
Construction documents will be made after the school receives the expected grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
"The key is getting the grant; everything hinges on the money ... Obviously the process would be faster if money was more available." said Knox.
The construction process has been divided roughly into two phases. In the first phase, the bi ol ogy department will expand into the second floor. If everything goes as planned, this should be completed by October 1998.
The second phase entails renovation of the basement and first floor. This is scheduled to be complete by October 2001. The outside of the building will not be altered, nor will additional space be added on to the building. The entire renovation will end up maximizing^ the existing internal space of the building. Some lab spaces will be smaller, others much larger, but all will be designed according to the function of the lab with safety and purpose in mind. Hallways will not be changed; however, due to the removal of several walls there will be an overall increase in space.
It is not completely known how classes will function to their full potential during the renovation. Classes and labs will still pro-
SEE SCIENCE PAGE 5
tion to the importance of the ideas discussed. And ideas are important in proportion to their connection with the world— nature, persons, society, God. Conversation is a search for those ideas that are of lasting importance. This search has led mankind to literature, the natural and social sciences, the fine arts, mathematics, history, philosophy,[and] theology."
Spaeth continued to express the importance ofcommunication and learning, invitinghis friends to have a conversation with him just before the time of his own passing.
Winter
commencement exercises planned
By Daniel Rosch
Staff Writer
At the conclusion of this semester, nineteen Saint John's students, two graduate students and thirty-six Saint Benedict's students will participate in winter commencement exercises.
The CSB exercises will be on Saturday, De-SJU Dean Joseph cember 17, at 3 p.m. in Farry the Forum Theatre.
The SJU exercises will follow on Sunday, December 18, at 2 p.m. in the Great Hall.
Of the total fifty-seven students graduating, two Saint John's students and five Saint Ben's students will graduate with honors ranging from Cum Laude to Magna Cum Laude.
Joseph Farry, dean of the college of arts and sciences, will speak at the SJU ceremony, while Joan Riebel, CSB professor andSocial Work organizer will give CSB's commencement speech. Both speakers were chosen by the graduating students through request submissions.
While each student is allotted five tickets for the commencement, there will not be a set limit for how many people the students may invite. This is one of the major differences between the spring and winter exercises.
Echoing sentiments shared by many December graduates, Demerie Edington, a graduatingsenior government major stated, "I wanted to take advantage of the extra months to get a head start on the job search and spend time working on applications."
