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(Posted 7-8-05)  From the UNI News site:  UNI's fifth president, J.W. Maucker, dead at age of 92

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The man who spent two decades at the helm of the University of Northern Iowa, receiving among his numerous honors, a national award for his stance on academic freedom, has died in Cedar Falls.

Photo of President J.W. Maucker available at: http://www.uni.edu/pubrel/maucker.jpg

J.W. "Bill" Maucker, 92, died Tuesday, July 5 at Sartori Memorial Hospital. Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, July 8, at Nazareth Lutheran Church, South Main Street and University Avenue, in Cedar Falls. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m., Thursday, July 7, at Richardson Funeral Home, 615 Main St., Cedar Falls. Memorials may be made to the UNI Foundation or Nazareth Lutheran Church.

Born in Rock Island, Ill., Sept. 16, 1912, Maucker was a 1933 graduate of Augustana College, where he received an A.B. degree. He received a master of arts degree in 1936 and a Ph.D. degree in 1940, both from the University of Iowa, where he also worked as a graduate assistant in education.

He served in the St. Louis and Pittsburgh public schools, the University of Missouri and Montana State University, the U.S. Office of Education in Washington, D.C., and in the U.S. Navy Bureau of Naval Personnel, before becoming the fifth president of UNI, then Iowa State Teachers College, in 1950, at the age of 38. He was one of the youngest college presidents in the Midwest at the time of his appointment.

During his tenure, the enrollment grew from 2,688 to 9,496, curricular offerings were extensively revamped and the college was changed from an emphasis strictly on teacher education to the provision of degrees in the liberal and vocational arts.

As the college expanded, the name was changed from ISTC to State College of Iowa, in 1961, and then, in 1967, following a reorganization of the instructional, as well as administrative structure of the college, the name was changed to the University of Northern Iowa.

In 1968, Maucker received the 10th Alexander Meiklejohn Award for academic freedom from the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). His name was placed in nomination for the award independently by five Iowa chapters of the AAUP. Members of the UNI chapter voted unanimously for his nomination, in support of Maucker's actions following the controversy that followed UNI English instructor Edward Hoffmans' advocacy of civil disobedience toward the draft in an article in the UNI student newspaper.

The question of freedom of speech and the question of whether a university professor should be discharged from his position because of advocating civil disobedience in an article in the student newspaper stirred a controversy both on and off campus.

In answer to critics who demanded Hoffmans' dismissal, Maucker issued his statement of freedom of expression at UNI, in which he said, "I believe the most important thing at stake in this instance is the maintenance of freedom of thought and expression in the university community. It is for educational reasons essentially that such freedom must be maintained -- so that ideas freely expressed may freely compete, stimulating thought and analysis by students and faculty…

"It is not enough merely to tolerate provocative ideas -- the university is obligated actively to encourage the free exchange of ideas…

"The overriding responsibility of the university is, of course, to provide effective instruction. Hence, it is the unique responsibility of the university to judge Mr. Hoffmans essentially as a teacher of composition," Maucker said.

"If it could be demonstrated that he has broken the law by expressing his thoughts, the proper remedy lies with law enforcement agencies and the courts," he said.

In introducing Maucker at the September 1968 Matriculation Convocation, the late William C. Lang, then academic vice president at UNI, said, "President Maucker came to this institution in 1950. It became apparent very early that he was dedicated to those ideals consonant with the finest in the tradition of higher education, indeed with those ideas and ideals that Western man has come to identify not only as significant, but of paramount importance:

"Respect for the individual; his dignity and worth as an individual-- even though all men have shortcomings and defects.
"The desire for justice achieved by due process under law or established rules.
"Faith in the rational process for the resolution of problems, while recognizing its limitations.
"Love of learning and the need to know.
"The inescapable need for the free exchange of ideas and the courage to change.
"The concept of power as a trust to be used in consultation and discussion and with accountability in the use of power to a variety of constituents." Lang concluded that "confronted with the problems of the presidency, he has seized them as opportunities. In the language of our day, if I were to seek to 'tell it like it is,' in spite of the demands of the presidency, 'he has kept the faith.'"

Maucker is survived by his second wife, Doreen Weber Maucker; a daughter, Ann M. King; and two sons, James N. Maucker and Robert W. Maucker.  (Source:  http://www.umpr.uni.edu/news.asp?NewsID=1812.)

In addition, we received the following message from Amy Mohr, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations at the University of Northern Iowa:  "A special message board has been created on the Alumni Association's Web site for alumni and friends to share their memories of former president J.W. Maucker. A link is provided off our home page, but to reach the site directly, please visit http://www.unialum.org/maucker."

(Posted 5-9-05)  Please see Bill Waack's update to the Spring 2005 UNIEA Newsletter.

(Posted 2-12-05)  The 2005 Annual Emeritus Spring Luncheon will be on Saturday, April 30, 2005, at the PIPAC Center on the Lake, 1521 Technology Parkway (across Hudson Road from the Target Distribution Center).

Come at 11:00 a.m. to greet your friends.  Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m.

Sue Grosboll, Director of the University Museums, will speak about the “T Rex Named Sue” exhibit and its impact upon our campus.

Menu choices are Poached Salmon ($20) or Chicken Oriental Salad ($16).  The complete menu will be listed in the invitation–reservation form that will be mailed to all UNI Emeritus members in the Spring Newsletter. Reservations with menu choice and payment are due on or before April 15, 2005.  Please mail reservations to:

Virginia Thulstrup
University Advancement
205 Commons
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-028

Dr. John Downey - The university has been informed of the recent death of Dr. John C. Downey in Sarasota, Florida.  Dr. Downey came to the University of Northern Iowa in 1968 as Professor and Head of the Department of Biology.  Dr. Downey was a noted entomologist and Past President of both the Iowa Academy of Sciences and Sigma XI.  He became Graduate Dean in 1981 and retired in 1988, after serving as a faculty member and administrator at UNI for 20 years.  Dr. Downey was an Army Air Force veteran of World War II and earned his Ph.D. degree from the University of California in 1957.  He is survived by his widow, Norine, five children and twelve grandchildren.  The family asks that memorial offerings be made to: Food for the Poor, 550 S. W. 12th Avenue Dept. 9662, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442.  (Announcement from the Graduate College.  Posted 2-24-05.)

Letter from Bill Waack  Letter from Bill Waack (January and February, 2005) regarding input for 2005 UNIEA newsletter input from members.

UNI Staff Change -- Virginia Thulstrup has replaced Brenda Jordan as the UNI contact person for matters relating to address changes and other aspects of the UNI Emeritus Association.  Virginia's address and telephone number are shown on the "Home" page.  Brenda is now working in the Technical Services department in the Rod Library.  Her telephone number is 319-273-2801 and her e-mail address is brenda.jordan@uni.edu.

Fifteenth Annual Luncheon (May 1, 2004)  --  We had a nice turnout for our 15th Annual Luncheon held at St. Stephens.  Please go here for more details.

To facilitate a faster loading of this "Home Page," the March Luncheon photo on the previous Home Page has been moved to the March Luncheon Photos page -- Please click here for those photos.

Advisory Council Minutes  (April 7, 2004)

Added the parenthetical statement "(including e-mail address)" in the section on the Home page regarding members contacting Brenda Jordan with address and telephone number changes.  (March 1, 2004)

Jim Becker has made modification to his travel Web site.  (March 1, 2004)

A number of broken links on the Sites of Interest page have now been corrected. (January 22, 2004)

Jim Becker (one of our members) has updated his travel Web site.  You may want to take a look at the nice changes he has made.  (Please click on the underlined link above.  January 17, 2004.)

Advisory Council Membership Update (January 8, 2004)

Membership List Update  (January 8, 2004)

Rights and Privileges Updated   (April, 21, 2003)

Message from Bill Waack, newly-appointed editor of the UNIEA News

Yvonne Duggan (former UNIEA Secretary) has taken a new position . . .

Mary Reidy (Program Assistant, Marketing and Public Relations) has asked that UNIEA members . . .

UNI Fall Convocation the First of a New Tradition

Ross Nielsen, the founder of the UNIEA, passes away.

Visit Jim Becker's Travel Site.  Fellow UNIEA member has developed a great web site to help you plan your travel activities.  Jim has links to over 100 travel sites.

"NewsletterAdditional past issues of the UNIEA Newsletter have been added to the Newsletter page. 

June 5, 2000:  UNI "About" Page Updated  -- DeWayne Purdy (Electronic Communications Manager, Office of Public Relations) has recently updated this fact-filled site with links to information (past and present) about UNI.  Fascinating reading, especially the "Historical Information" section.  (Note:  The links previously used for this announcement are no longer active.  You can now find the information at this link:   "Historical Information" section.)

April 5, 2000:  The First of a New Tradition

March 21, 2000:  UNI Retirement Information Page

March 9, 2000:  "How to do it" computer software link added. (Link closed.)

March 5, 2000:  April 29th Luncheon

February 25, 2000:  Newsletter page added to site.

January 21, 2000:  Lyle Alberts Passes Away

January 13, 2000:  UNI's Information Technology Services Workshops

January 6, 2000:  Survey Results  (October, 1999 Survey of UNIEA Members)

November 25, 1999:  December Luncheon

November 25, 1999:  "Find" button added to Membership page.

October 11, 1999:  UNIEA Survey

October 6, 1999:  UNIEA Membership Listings in UNI Electronic Phone Book

June 17, 1999:  Letter from Officers and Advisory Council regarding UNIEA Funding

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University of Northern Iowa Emeritus Association

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