Zumwinkle, a "workaholic"
by T. WALSH
Robert Zumwinkle, alias "Dr. Z", failed to meet my preconceived notions of a bond street suited administration with ready-fire answers. Instead I met a short friendly man with a silvering mustache  an appearance that seemed to fit his thoughtful, but not altogether serious nature.
Dr. Z finds that being Vice-president for Student Affairs "can be a rat race, but its never humdrum." A self sacrified "workaholic," he often finds his leisure time filled with meetings, conventions, and unfinished paper work he takes home from his office.
Grounded in the realities of his work, Dr. Z avoided * glowing descriptions and focused on needs. "I don't think we do a very good job orienting students. It's a problem of communication, getting students to look at themselves in relation to the university."
Another need Dr. Z saw was services for academic "high risk" students. "If the university admits them, we should do something for them."
After four years at Kentucky, Dr. Z was aware of assets as well as needs. "Kentucky is a fairly relaxed institution, not as uptight as many universities," he says. "There are many opportunities for students to individualize their own programs.
"This, along, with a great variety of outlets for personal interests, allows the creative student to mold his own experience, not just be a number. However," he adds, "we in the administration sometimes fail to make students aware of these opportunities."
Because he worked with and was a part of the administration Dr. Z said his friends often wondered about the consistency in his private and professional beliefs. As a former state president of the Minnesota chapter of theAmerican Civil Liberties Union and an active participant in Common Cause, he tried "to provide an input in administrative decisions" which mirror his personal beliefs.
"Fortunately the university recognized the value of differing opinions," he remarked. "Yet there are times when decisions are made that you would not publicly agree with, but have to carry out."
Although Dr. Z enjoyed his administrative post, he was "at times envious of faculty and students who have more freedom" to speak out in public, as well as among inner circles.
At some future time Dr. Z would like to get involved in more direct student contact. "As an administrator it is easy to become isolated," he comments. "Admittedly, the higher the administrative position, the less one gets to see the fruits of his job."
Walsh is a non-degree English student.
UK VPs
445