daily nebraskan
Wednesday, march 29, 1978
page 8
A year as NU president turns Roskens into realist
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Photo by Ted Kirk
April 1 will be Ronald Roskens first anniversary as NU president.
By Mary Fastenau
President of the University of Nebraska,
To many, the title evokes visions of importance,
prestige, authority and a sense of remoteness.
But, add the name Ronald Roskens to the title, and
university president takes the shape of a farm boy, an
early morning riser, a physical education advocate and a
man who does not let titles interfere with living.
Roskens is the farm boy who said he still has the urge
to get on a tractor for field work when spring arrives.
He is the man who is in the office at 6:30 a.m. because
he said he likes to set his day's agenda. He is the runner
who jogs two miles at least two days a week and tries to
do it five days.
Despite his position, Roskens says, "I'm not unusually
modest, but I don't regard this as a regal office."
Wrapping his long leg around the arm of the brown,
overstuffed chair and filling his office with the pipe
smoke, Roskens talks about his term as president which
will be a year April 1 .
People sometimes tell him they think he occupies a
prestigous position, Roskens said, but he disagrees.
"I don't think people should feel awe when they enter
the office," he explained.
Rosken's said he leaves university problems at his
office.
His children do not have to contend with being 'the
president's children,' Roskens said, because it is not dis
cussed at home.
"We have always played that low key," he said.
Roskens said he has a "fairly firm sense of self-discip-line"
and recognizes he is not effective without sufficient
sleep or relaxing time with his family.
Roskens said he gets up early, which is "strictly a hang
over from the farm." He admitted he is not effective late
at night.
"1 begin to fold or wilt just like a week," he said.
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Althoueh the job creates frustrations, Roskens said Hp
does not become "mired in frustration."
Roskens said he wishes he could meet with all faculty
members and students but knows it is impossible.
"1 have become a realist," he said, "and I realize the
roster of things to be accomplished will never be a clean
slate."
Roskens said his duties as NU president differ from
those of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, chancellor,
his former position. He admitted he feels "much more
remote from campus" and has had to readjust.
"It was a difficult adjustment because when you are on
campus you can draw people together," he said. But from
here I can merely suggest."
Being NU president is easier, he said, because he is
"blessed" with a supportive Board of Regents, effective
student regents and "first-rate campus leaders."
When making decisions, Roskens said he listens to
these people and others whose opinions he respects, then
weighs the alternatives.
Continued on page 9
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