institution, as well.
“I cannot imagine a better environ
ment to work in,” she said. “Walking
onto campus every day and facing
enthusiastic, eneigetic young people
who challenge us to continually be
better at what we do and who offer
creative, thoughtful ways to ap
proach things is veiy stimulating. ”
Mitchell has worked her way to
the position of assistant dean.
“What that means to me, specifi
cally, is feeling responsible for see
ing to it that students feel they are
listened to, responded to and getting
their money’s worth,” she said.
Like many of her colleagues,
Mitchell says she would like to see
more funding for higher education.
“Most of the issues we face could
be addressed successfully if we were
better funded,” Mitchell said. “It is
extremely frustrating to be constant
ly constrained by limited re
sources.”
{ { Most of the issues we
face cauid be addressed if
we were better funded
Wendy Mitchell
Asst. Dean, College of
Business
/ Robert Barton,
Theater Arts Professor
As a member of the acting depart
ment, Barton has a pretty big role to
fill.
“My job is to coordinate all acting
classes and extra-curricular acting
projects,” Barton said.
This means training and supervis
ing acting teachers, coaching actors
for auditions, competitions and festi
vals, as well as designing and imple
menting new courses. In addition to
that load of responsibilities, Barton
teaches about a dozen acting classes.
“I also hook up actors with other
groups, on and off campus, which
need their talents,” he said.
The University became Barton’s
choice for profession because of “the
beauty and ambiance of the town
and campus. My family was looking
to escape Washington,, D.C., /or
some place green. ” £
Barton’s proposed change in high
er education includes fewer daily
obligations.
“Everything seems to involve too
many meetings, too many forms,
too many cooks in every stew, so
that everything gets ‘cooked’ in the
most laborious way possible,” he
said. “It is really challenging to try
to create without interference. I
would also like to make it less ex
pensive for the individual student.”
Caroline Forell, Professor of Law
After graduating from the Univer
sity of Iowa Law School, Forell took
a nine-month, non-tenured legal re
search and writing job at the Univer
sity’s law school, to give herself a
better chance to find a lawyer posi
tion in Oregon.
“I discovered I enjoyed academic
life and that I had the qualifications
to become a tenure-track professor,”
Forell said. “So that’s what I did,
and I’ve never regretted it for a mo
ment.”
Even today, Forell says she still
finds her job gratifying.
“I feel honored and privileged to
teach law and to teach at the [Uni
versity]; even after 22 years, it is still
exciting and rewarding.”
Forell says she believes students
bear too much cost for higher educa
tion, a factor she would change.
“Universities shouldn’t continue
to be expected to cut more corners
while still doing a quality job of
preparing students for the 21st cen
tury,” she said. “Well-funded public
higher education is one of the best
investments the state can make for
its citizens.”
Peter Briggs,
Director International Recruitment
Originally from Seattle, Briggs’s
love for the Northwest, the campus
reputation and the community was
what made him choose a job at the
University.
“The international community
here is fantastic — it enriches the
campus environment in so many
ways,” he said.
In addition to his director posi
tion, Briggs has served as an adviser
to University students and scholars
since 1981.
“Through my work with interna
tional students, I have gained in
credible experiences, deep friend
ships and a highly personalized
global perspective,” Briggs said. “I
wish everyone could enjoy the expe
riences that I have been so fortunate
to have had here.”
Continuing the drumbeat of other
administrators, Briggs wants Oregon
citizens to truly grasp the biggest
problem in higher education.
“The under-funding of higher ed
ucation in Oregon is sad,” he said. “1
wish we could get beyond talking
about money and focus on the good
work that goes on here. I think Ore
gonians might better appreciate how
their higher education tax dollars
are spent.”
Tom Patterson for the Emerald
Caroline Forrell said she has never regretted her decision to become a professor.
Q07025
St.Thomas More Catholic
Newman Center.
Catholic Campus Ministry: 1850 Emerald Street, across from Hayward Field
Phone: 346-4468 newman@newmanctr-uoregon.org http://www.newmanctr-uoregon.org
Student Masses: Sunday 7:30PM, Wednesday 9PM
Free pasta feed 9/24 at 5-7 pm Freshman Retreat 10/11,5-10 pm Fall Retreat 10/27-29