University of Virginia Library

Robert Kretsinger

Sees College As Lost Ship

Profile

By ELIZABETH JOHNSON

"I am not convinced that
the University's administration
has a well defined idea of an
appropriate role for the
University in the coming
decades," declared Assoc.

Biology Prof. Robert H.
Kretsinger.

"In the September meeting of
the faculty, the Dean of the
Faculty compared the College
of Arts and Sciences to a ship.
The question now is where the
ship is going and what it is
doing," he said, grimacing
slightly.

Although he teaches one fifth
of an undergraduate
biochemistry course, the
bearded professor is probably
best known by graduate
students.

His salary is paid by the
National Institute of Health
which guarantees him a light
teaching load so he can
conduct research work. He is
currently working on the
structure of proteins by the
technique of X-ray diffraction.

University's Role

"The big challenge before
faculty and students alike," he
continued, "is to decide what
the role of the University
should be in the state and in
the United States."

"The Future of the University
report was a solid, politically
palatable report," observed Mr.
Kretsinger. "But, it did not
contribute philosophically. It
only helped design the ship."

"To some extent, growth at
the University is a false issue,"

Mr. Kretsinger asserted. "The
issue is, rather, the character
and quality of the University."

"The question is," he
continued," can the University
improve its character and
academic quality with growth. I
honestly don't know the
answer to that yet."

"Depending on the nature of
the growth, it could improve or
detract from the University. It
offers us an opportunity to
bring in a broad range of
character, wide geographic
areas, and people with a wide
spectrum of interests. Or it
could just make us bigger and
bigger and more
homogeneous."

"Limited growth is
inevitable," he noted, "the
challenge is not to argue
against growth, but to exploit
growth to the advantage of the
University."

Mr. Kretsinger expressed
regret at the recent quota
restrictions on the number of
out of state students. "It is
unfortunate but
understandable because of
interests in the state legislature.
Whatever fraction of students
we get, however, that fraction
should be students who
contribute something different.
Why, one student from
Colorado might be worth three
or four from New Jersey or
Pennsylvania," he laughed.

Reciprocity Program

"Seriously, I don't see why
the University couldn't be the
national leader in a program in
reciprocity. For example a few
students at Virginia could go to
the University of Montana at
Virginia tuition and vise-versa."

"This problem faces every
university. The reciprocity
solution would give diversity to
both students who stay and
students who go away."

Mr. Kretsinger seeme
optimistic about working with
the faculty this year. "Some are
too busy, some are indifferent,
but many of the faculty show
an intense interest in defining
the role of the University."