monday, january 16, 1978
daily nebraskan
Ooooooo00o
Southerner Armstrong's
hospitality remains warm
By Gail Stork
Nebraska has faded his southern accent
and converted him to Big Red allegiance,
but Richard Armstrbng, UNL vice chancel
lor for student affairs, said he still is loyal
to the South where he was born, educated
and employed before coming to UNL,
His southern accent still is noticeable,
but Armstrong said compared with his
? wife , he has no accent at all .
. Jhe. legendary southern hospitatlity also
is intact in Armstrong after five years at
UNL. Some of it leaks out in the easy
. speech and calm gestures of the 46-year-old
administrator.
Armstrong said the lack of southern
warmth in Nebraska's people and its
weather were two difficult adjustments he
and his family had to make when he left
his position in 1972 as housing director at
Georgia University, Athens, Ga.
But after 4 years in the same position at
UNL and nearly a year as vice chancellor,
Armstrong said he thinks Nebraskaris are
more genuinely warm and not just living up
to a reputation. -
The adjustment required by his promo
tion last year took much less time than the
two years spent getting used to sub-zero
t temperatures and snow, Armstrong said.
Armstrong's job is providing leadership
for divisions of student services-University
Health Center, Multi-Cultural Affairs,
Nebraska Unions, Housing and office of
the Dean of Students-although he said it
isn't as structured as it sounds.
"I would hope there are students
spinkled all through the system," he said,
lie deals primarily with student leaders and
problems students cannot solve through
usual channels.
When there is no student traffic in his
large, uncluttered office, Armstrong said he
takes care of the paperwork whichaccor
ding to a new year's resolution, he plans to
dispense with quicker and more efficiently,
Armstrong said he often owrks longer
than the normal 8-to-5 day of an adminis
trator because a student's day is longer
than that. His schedule evokes an occa
sional "When is dad coming home
tdnight?" from his children -Synda, 10,
and Richard, 8.
Even when he is home, Armstrong said
he is occupied with Business "that does not
mix with children, so vacations are the
only time the family is really together,
The word ."family" produced an
enthused smile and full description of Arm
strong's family, whose support he said is
crucial to his job, .
' In another new year's resolution, Arm
strong promised his family a vacation that
was not connected with any convention,
conference or business trip.
His wife, Marinall, works prt-time
researching the needs of the deaf, besides
playing tennis whenever her schedule
permits. '
Armstrong said when his wife can con
vince him to play tennis too, he gets physi
cally exhausted But "when the weather is
decent" working outside is his therapy.
"I can get myself back together by til
ling the soil, watering plants . , . even
mowing the lawn," he said. "That, and
taking a shower, help me get perspective,"
However, Armstrong said he can't leave
problems at the office.
"Being physically relaxed doesn't mean
I don't have the same thoughts I had all
day," he said.
The army reserve has taken up two
weeks of each of Armstrong's years since
his participation in ROTC in college at
Auburn. He referred to it as his second
vocation.
Both of Armstrong's vocations include
people. He said' being at ease with people
and understanding them are traits a college
supervisor recognized in him, convincing
him to go into administration.
"I really enjoy establishing friendships
that weather time," fye said. "I enjoy seeing
young staff members overcome their first
frustrations and mature professionally. It's
very rewarding."
Armstrong's zest for people is a part of
his southern hospitatlity that has survived
the bite of Nebraskan winters to become
a genuine Nebraskan warmth.
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