UNIVERSITY HEAD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 87, 23 January 1935, Page 3

UNIVERSITY HEAD

DR. WILLIAMS RESIGNS. RECENT VISIT TO DOMINION. Dr. Waiter Williams, the president of the University of Missouri, in the United States, made many friends when he visited New Zealand last year, and they will be interested to hear something of his latest movements. At the age of 70, Dr. Williams has decided to relinquish the: presidency of the University and to make way for a younger man. But to this news is added the announcement that Dr. Williams will resume his duties of Dean of the University School of Journalism, which he founded in 1908. After his tour last year Dr. Williams found himself in bad health and he had to undergo a serious operation during the university summer vacation. However, both before and after the operation he carried out his. executive duties in his usual thorough manner. It has been suggested that with Mrs Wiilliams he should attend the conference of the Institute of .Journalists in London next year, when a relaxation of duties allows him a little leisure. Tributes to Dr. Williams. On receiving the news of Dr. Williams's, resignation a leader writer or the "New York Times" interpreted the thoughts of every working journalist when he said: "The newspaper otiice was Dr. Williams's school, and Ins teachers were practitioners in an occupation which he has seen develop into a. profession. in tnat development he may cay, both as founder of the first school ot journalism and as an earth-encircling observer of affairs, that lie avus and is a part of all that he has met. Coming up from an early journalistic experience in a small town, he knew what would be most helpful to young men and women in preparation tor the most demanding ot all callings. While recognising technique to be essential, no was also aware, as he has saia, that technique alone docs not make a master. Something beyond it is required. In his own case he endowed technique with a spirit characteristic of a research student. Far from the shores of communication with other lands, in a valley of self-sufficiency, it is the more remarkable that he should have been so deeply interested in international relations, it is but an academic version of the familiar characterisation of a Missourian, as was once said of Professor Shapley, a native of Missouri, to affirm that he was born into a scientific attitude of mind. He has to be shown. He demands to know the why and wherefore of things. Thus the newspaper man became the head not only of the School of Journalism but of the State University. Widespread Influence. \ "It lias been said of the true journalist that he must know the truth, or as much of it as he can acquire; be eager to tell it, and then know how to tell it. It is this last qualification that makes him the greatest of educators. Dr. Williams is obliged by illness to relinquish the duties of the presidency, but it will be good news to journalists throughout the world — for it is said that the graduates of his school are to be found in the ranks of nearly every important newspaper staff—.that he still is to remain head of the first school of journalism."