 | Spring/Summer 2005 |
Features: Reflections on a Century of Teaching
Saginaw Valley State University lost more than 108 years of experience when professors Eldon Graham, David Rayfield, and David Weaver retired at the end of the academic year. The institution bid good-bye to three of the individuals who played a large role in shaping the University.
Each professor founded the department in which they worked since their arrival, and each retired with unique perspectives of the University's history and growth.
The veteran of the group by three years, Weaver (pictured left) joined the SVSU faculty in 1967 and taught political science to three generations – literally. "I've had that experience, believe it or not," he said, before adding with a hearty laugh, "Usually, I wonder if they talked to their grandparents first."
Weaver recalls the days when SVSU – then Saginaw Valley College – had one building, one large bean field, 200 students, and five faculty. The explosive growth that has occurred in the years that followed makes its biggest impression on him in a personal way. "I no longer know everybody," he said. "For the first 15 to 20 years, I did."
Rayfield, the long-time philosophy professor, has a similar memory of SVSU's first years. In fact, he recalled to the Valley Vanguard that when he first set eyes on the early campus, his first thought was that it "looked like an abandoned Air Force base" and consisted of little more than Wickes Hall, the First Year Suites, and the '68 Building (now part of South Campus Complex). Waving his hand at waist level, he added that the pine trees that now stand in front of the Arbury Fine Arts Center were only "this tall."
The University's growth wouldn't have been possible without Graham's contributions, either. The long-time associate professor of mechanical engineering started working at SVSU in 1970, long before engineering courses were taught. While an employee of The Dow Chemical Company, Graham served six years on a committee charged with forming plans to start an engineering program, but there were many obstacles, especially when it came to funding.
"It became apparent we weren't going to gain state support," he explained. Graham accepted an offer from SVSU's first president, Sam Marble, to take on the challenge of putting an engineering program in place. "My first few years primarily involved fund-raising," Graham said. "We knew it would have to be privately financed, and we went out and beat the bushes to get that money."
For a time in the early 1970s, Graham (pictured right) was SVSU's representative to the Michigan Legislature. As he prepared to ask for increased state funding, he put together a comprehensive presentation – just like an engineer. "I had all the data; I had all the slides, but at the end, they looked rather bored," he said. Graham was followed by Jack Breslin from Michigan State University. "He showed their football highlight tape," Graham recalled. "The Legislature applauded. Guess who got the money?"
Graham guffawed at the reminiscence. Eventually, enough money was raised, and Graham began the project for which he is perhaps best known, overseeing the construction of Pioneer Hall. "I had the opportunity to develop the conceptual design for the building, lay out the laboratories, and select the laboratory equipment," he said. "Every electrical outlet, every heating duct, I did the whole thing. I'm pretty proud of that."
Pioneer Hall has been in use since 1978, which is "not too bad," in Graham's opinion. The science and engineering facility is tentatively scheduled to be renovated in 2006 thanks to a promised $12 million in capital funding from the State of Michigan.
While Graham was getting the engineering program off the ground, Rayfield and Weaver were building their respective departments as well. Both have their opinions on students now and students during SVSU's early years. "Students in the sixties and seventies were more politically aware – aware that they were being lied to," Rayfield said.
Weaver noticed the increased disinterest, as well. "I'd say the greatest shift (over the years) is an increased pessimism and negativism about the subject of politics," he said. "Even during the 1960s and '70s when the anti-war sentiment was very strong, the positive attitudes about what could be done in politics were stronger."
Weaver also detected more stridency among those students who have political views, which he attributed to the proliferation of "talking heads" on radio and television, but he said many students simply shy away from politics. "I tried to persuade them that this stuff is important," he said. "I literally told them to pay attention, recognize the stakes you have in (politics) and participate, or become a victim, because those who choose to take part will win. That has always been a hard sell."
Rayfield (pictured left) said this combination of apathy and lack of understanding of the world is disturbing. "It's scary," he added. "Today's students will be in Washington someday, making decisions."
Rayfield figures that English professor Leslie Whittaker deserves the credit for bringing him to SVSU in 1970. "I suppose he's responsible," Rayfield said. "He was the one who would go to grad schools to find new faculty – back when he was 100." (Whittaker remains on the SVSU faculty at the spry age of 86.)
Rayfield retained his sense of humor – and perspective – during his academic career. He has accumulated quite a few stories of SVSU presidents past and present over the years, such as the time Sam Marble vetoed Rayfield's proposal to add a course on Marxism to the philosophy curriculum. "I think it was a fund-raising year," Rayfield quipped.
When Saginaw Valley State College became SVSU, Rayfield immediately applied for the license plate "SVSU1," and got it. "I told (former President) Jack Ryder the best he could be is number two," Rayfield recalled. Current SVSU President Eric Gilbertson's license plate reads "1SVSU." After seeing it, Rayfield retorted, "Are you sure that's not a typo? I think it's supposed to be ‘I SVSU'."
Rayfield even manages to maintain his sense of humor when discussing serious subjects, such as the time when he learned he was being investigated by the so-called police "red squads" for his purported political beliefs. Around 1974, the federal government ordered that such files should be returned to those being investigated. Rayfield went to the Michigan State Police post in Bay City and was handed a rather small folder. "I was pretty disappointed," Rayfield recalled, hoping the file would be bigger.
Graham had mixed feelings about retiring after a professional career of nearly 60 years. "I've enjoyed the faculty and students so much," he told the Vanguard. "Such an association is not easy to give up." Graham added that he will also miss not only his colleagues in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology and throughout the University, but everyone who played a role in making SVSU what it is today.
Both Rayfield and Weaver are excited to go into other endeavors. Weaver may seek to influence public opinion. He is toying with the prospect of becoming a regular op-ed columnist in his retirement, though that may be interrupted by the traveling he and his wife, Carol Ann, would like to do.
"When you're at this stage, you start thinking about the things you never did and might want to do," he said to the Vanguard. "Everyone I know that is retired said they get busier and busier (after retirement), so I'm hopeful that happens. I don't want to vegetate."
Rayfield intends to devote more time to a favorite pastime. "Now my interest will be in photography," he said. Rayfield's first job was working as a "dark room monkey" for a small newspaper, and taking pictures has been an avocation – not a hobby – ever since.
"Hobbies aren't quite as expensive as avocations," he said. For a time, Rayfield actively sought to sell his photos in galleries and at art fairs, though the exercise was far from profitable. "Every dollar I took home cost me two," he said. Instead, Rayfield plans to look for new galleries to show his works, probably in the Detroit area, but not for financial gain. "I'm tired of earning a living," he said. "Now I want to live instead."
Graham, on the other hand, will not leave SVSU permanently, as he plans on staying around for consultation and research. He plans to stay in the community with his wife, and doesn't want to slow down too much. "It's better than golfing," he joked to the Vanguard. "This school is my whole life," he said. "It has been a thrill of a lifetime to see a university grow from a cabbage patch and corn fields."