page 5
Youthful Bader is old in experience
by Michael (O.J.) Nelson
"I am charged by the Board of
Regents to be an administrator and I've
got decisions to make."
The administrator is Ken Bader. And
for an hour and a half Tuesday he talked
about his background, his interests and
hinted at what sorts of decisions he might
reach in his new position.
Although he's the new UNL vice
chancellor for Student Affairs, he could
be easily mistaken for a graduate student.
His crew cut and sparkling blue eyes
make him look much younger than his 38
years.
Despite his youthful appearance,
Bader probably has more experience in
university administration than most men
his age.
He was named Dean of Students at
Ohio State University (OSU) in 1969. At
age 35, he was the youngest man to hold
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rv "i.
m Ms
that job in the school's history. Before
being promoted to that position he had
served as acting assistant dean for
academic affairs, and assistant and
associate dean of students for the OSU
College of Agriculture.
Climbing the administrative ladder so
quickly was hard work, work which he
said was fueled by "nervous energy."
"I have an abundance of nervous
energy, although I hope I don't always
reflect it," he said. He tapped his foot
rhythmically through most of the
interview.
It's that energy, he said, which forces
him to "work hard and play hard."
When he plays, the game is usually golf
("I'm doing well when I break. 100 on a
championship course"), tennis or
handball.
Is he planning to challenge his new
boss, UNL Chancellor James Zumberge,
an avid handball player, to a match?
"I don't think so," he said. "I hear
'I have an abundance of nervous
energy.
he's an enthusiast and I haven't played in
sometime."
He paused, and then with a smile that
suggested the sweetness of a possible
future victory, he said: "However, I think
I'd like to get him on the golf course or
the tennis court."
Being in charge of Student Affairs
won't leave much time for sports, he said.
"It's not a 9 to 5 job."
Ely Meyerson, formerly interim dean
for Student Affairs and Bader's
predecessor at UNL, would agree. He'd
not served more than a month until he
w3i entangled in the first of four major
sTudent-ddministration-Board of Regents
cor trover j i last school year: the highly
put!tcized Time -Out Conference on
Hu"iin Serajstfty, followed by a birth
control handbook investigation, a co-ed
i'!t,rurtor disyjte, and the much criticized
Drrnt, "Justce in America".
But the prospect of a year of conflict
d:iesri'i hZcf t Ken Bader.
"I'm not one to run from
controversy" he Mid. "I realize the
cutting adge in education is a questioning
process. That's true forthinysinoroutof
the classroom."
turn to p. 6
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