As President John T. Casteen, III approaches the end of his term and the University’s Special Committee on the Nomination of a President continues its search for his replacement, Focus looks back on the institution’s seven presidents and their terms of office.

Edwin Anderson Alderman (1905-31)

Edwin Alderman, the University’s first president, held office from 1904 to 1931. A North Carolinian, Alderman came to the University after having served as president of the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and then as the president of Tulane University in Louisiana, said Sandy Gilliam, University protocol and history officer.

Alderman was “widely recognized as a visionary and an organizer,” Casteen stated in an e-mail. “Prior to coming here, he had seen the value of the new German plan for links between undergraduate and progressively more advanced graduate programs, including the new American doctorate as the final step.”

Additionally, Casteen stated that Alderman refined and adapted this plan to the needs of public institutions when he brought doctoral programs to the University, and also broadened the curriculum by creating preprofessional tracks, the most notable of which was the Education School.

John Lloyd Newcomb (1931-47)

In 1931, Alderman died in office because of health complications. His assistant John Newcomb became acting president and remained so for two years until his formal inauguration, Gilliam said. Newcomb, however, was never the Board of Visitors’ first choice for president, History Prof. Phyllis Leffler said. Since several candidates had declined the position, and also because Newcomb had been Alderman’s main assistant and subsequently the interim president, he was chosen in 1933.

“The great thing about Newcomb was that he not only held this place together during tough economic circumstances but he was able to figure ways to build things,” Gilliam said.

For example, Newcomb successfully completed the construction of Alderman Library during the height of the Great Depression.

Because of the economic circumstances, however, faculty took a 20 percent cut in salary under Newcomb. This cut helped save jobs and allowed the University to move forward, unlike many of its peer institutions during the depression, Leffler said.

Newcomb was also very knowledgeable about minute details regarding the University, which enabled him to “weather the storms of both war and a major depression,” Leffler said.

“I doubt that one would call Mr. Newcomb a visionary, but he lived for the University — even to the extent of going from being president to being for the last few years [after his 1947 retirement] the construction engineer in charge of New Cabell,” Casteen stated.

Colgate W. Darden, Jr. (1947-59)

As Newcomb’s successor, former Virginia Gov. Colgate W. Darden, Jr. did not make a positive first impression on students at the beginning of his presidency, particularly because of negative comments he made about the Greek system, Leffler said. In addition, faculty mistrusted the new president because he was a former politician.

During his time as an undergraduate at the University, Darden had felt excluded from fraternity life, and as president commissioned Newcomb to build a student union — later named Newcomb Hall — in hopes of changing the student culture, Leffler said. The project was very controversial among the student body and many students protested at Darden’s inauguration as a result, she added.

During Darden’s presidency, the University absorbed large numbers of GI students — many of whom had families — in the aftermath of World War II. As a result, Darden needed to expand the University quickly, adding new programs and buildings.

“He knew Richmond very well, and knew how to talk to people and get things and petition the General Assembly for money,” Gilliam said, adding that Darden’s term marked the “beginning of a great period of building” in which McCormick dorms, Newcomb Hall, the College at Wise, New Cabell Hall and the Physics Building were built and the Engineering School and Health System were expanded.

Edgar F. Shannon, Jr. (1959-74)

Darden’s successor was Edgar F. Shannon, Jr., who earned his recognition for transforming the University’s character, Leffler said. For example, Shannon saw the University triple in size — from 5,000 to 15,000 students — and the enrollment of women as undergraduates changed the face of the College of Arts and Sciences during his presidency.

Because of the huge influx in enrollment, the University began to recruit faculty on a national level, Leffler said.

“The reputation of the University as an excellent academic place owes a huge amount to Shannon for his commitment to bring national attention to the University,” she said.

Leffler also noted that a major student protest, known as May Days, took place in May 1970at various places on Grounds in reaction to the drafting of troops to Cambodia during the Vietnam War, but the University remained open at this time — unlike many other universities that faced similar protests. In what Leffler referred to as “Shannon’s finest hour,” Shannon was able to handle the protest without substantial violence or brutality.

Shannon delivered a memorable address on the steps of Rotunda to thousands of students stating that he would put his name on a petition to two major Virginia senators, thus formally issuing his own protest against the expansion of the Vietnam War, and encouraged students to sign, Leffler said. Shannon almost lost his job for taking a political position on the issue, but was able to quell the student riot because he “expressed his own conscience and let students know he was sympathetic and empathizing with them,” Leffler said.

“Mr. Shannon’s great accomplishment was building the Graduate School as the base for a national-class university and beginning the job of making the Alderman Library a great center for scholarship,” Casteen said, noting that Shannon paved the way for the kind of fundraising that is now essential and “gave us the custom of practicing Thomas Jefferson’s rule that here we will tolerate any error so long as reason is free to combat it.”

Frank L. Hereford, Jr. (1974-85)

While most of Shannon’s administration saw great support for higher education in Richmond and Washington, that support was drying up when Hereford became president, Gilliam said. Hereford recognized this and stated in his inaugural address that the University could not depend on public support, but needed to raise private money.

Hereford was a “hugely successful private fundraiser,” Leffler said, and his administration created the first real capital campaign, which was successful and has continued to be successful through its modern-day successors, Gilliam said.

Hereford also tightened admission standards and began the first serious efforts to increase the representation of minorities among students and faculty, Gilliam said. At the time, though, many of Hereford’s decisions in this regard were marred with controversy. A student-led march on Carr’s Hill — then the residence of the University’s president — as well as a series of protests about Hereford’s racially-exclusive membership at the Farmington Country Club, took place during a time of significant change and upheaval on Grounds.

“He had the surest moral or ethical compass I have ever seen,” Casteen stated, adding that “When facing a proposal or an offer that didn’t pass his moral or ethical tests, he would say (quickly, clearly, and finally) ‘Good God, no!’”

Robert M. O’Neil (1985-90)

O’Neil continued to build on what Hereford started in terms of diversifying the student and faculty bodies, and he also desired to increase the University’s presence abroad.

Additionally, O’Neill set up three task forces, Leffler said, including one on the status of women at the University, because they didn’t have the necessary support systems. As part of O’Neill’s efforts, this task force set up the first childcare center at the University for faculty and staff.

There was also a task force on African American affairs, which changed the support systems for minority students, in addition to a substance abuse task force. Casteen stated that O’Neil’s reputation was always grounded in his deep convictions about the Bill of Rights, and also in his planning and actions to begin moving the University onto the world stage.

John T. Casteen, III (1990-2009)

Casteen obtained his undergraduate, graduate and doctorate degrees at the University. In 1975 he served as dean of admissions for the University and, in 1982, left to become Virginia’s Secretary of Education, Gilliam said.

After serving as president of the University of Connecticut, Casteen assumed the University’s presidency in August of 1990.

Casteen “had been an exceptionally good Dean of Admissions” and as President he continued his efforts to make the student body more inclusive, to recruit more minority students, and to find ways to obtain more financial aid for students, Gilliam said.

At Casteen’s urging, the AccessUVa program started, with an aim to make financial aid available to students in need. Casteen has also presided over the second large-scale capital campaign, and has made the University “much more of a globally oriented university than we ever have been,” Gilliam added.

2010 will mark the end of Casteen’s 20-year presidency, the longest presidency at the University since Alderman’s 25-year term.

The Special Committee on the Nomination of a President recently released a position description which outlines the desired qualities in the next University leader. The description states that “It is widely believed that our next president should be a distinguished scholar and teacher who understands the academy, engages with students as a visible participant in the life of the University community, and translates Jefferson’s vision into 21st century realities.”

Additionally, it notes that the next president “must have a great passion for leading a public university” and should be an individual who “hires and develops great people and build effective teams that demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement and appreciation for diversity,” one who “speaks out on the higher education challenges in the commonwealth and in the nation — diversity, access, affordability, accountability, and the urgency for a new funding model to ensure financial stability” and one who “embraces the culture and core values of the University — academic rigor, honor, civility and mutual respect, diversity, public service, and the student experience” among many other traits.

Jeff

Major?
Physics

What extracurriculars do you participate in?
Army ROTC, University Singers, Fraternity (Beta Theta Pi)

What do you like to do in your free time?
Free time? Just kidding, I run.

What are the physical and personality attributes you are looking for in a date?
Carries on a good conversation.

Do you smoke? Do you drink? Do you work out? Do you attend religious services? Are you passionate about politics?
No, yes, a lot, occasionally, I enjoy talking about politics but don’t get too worked up about them.

What are your favorite TV shows?
Don’t watch much TV, but I’d make an exception for 24.

What are your favorite movies?
If you would describe it as “epic,” I would probably enjoy it. Gladiator, Lord of the Rings, etc.

What are your favorite books and authors?
For the beach, Clive Cussler

What makes you a good catch?
The color of my eyes

What would your theme song be?
Mayberry

What’s your idea of funny?
Seinfeld

What hobbies/interests would you like to share with your date? What ways would you like them to differ from you?
A nominal commitment to fitness and a passion for something.

Describe where you would go on your ideal date.
The moon

What are deal breakers (won’t date a smoker, age, etc.)?
Younger than 18, old enough to be my mother

If you could have any superpower what would it be?
Fly

Are you outgoing or shy?
A little bit of both

You’re stranded on an island. What three foods would you bring? Which three people would you want with you?
Coconuts, fish and seagulls so I wouldn’t regret running out. An engineer, a mechanic and a pilot so I could salvage the downed airplane and get off the island

What do you want to do when you graduate?
Join the Army

If you were a member of the circus, who would you be and why?
One of the 37 clowns in the little blue car because I really want to know how they do it.

Stephanie

Major?
Environmental Science and Archaeology

What extracurriculars do you participate in?
Triathlon Club, Archaeology Society

What do you like to do in your free time?
Run, read, throw a Frisbee around with friends, cook/bake

What are the physical and personality attributes you are looking for in a date?
Being at least somewhat in shape is very important, but it should not be the most important thing in the guy’s life. I am looking for someone non-confrontational, but is also decisive. And of course, smart, fun and nice are all good things too.

Do you smoke? Do you drink? Do you work out? Do you attend religious services? Are you passionate about politics?
I do not smoke and am not really interested in someone who does, nor do I drink that much, but I’m not opposed to it in moderation. I do workout, almost daily, it is a big part of my routine. I don’t go to religious services, nor am I very passionate about politics. They both cause too much fighting.

What are your favorite TV shows?
Bones

What are your favorite movies?
Remember the Titans, Pride and Prejudice (1995), Down with Love

What are your favorite books and authors?
Jane Austen, Once a Runner, The Importance of Being Earnest

What makes you a good catch?
I’m diverse. I can be girly, but I’m not afraid of a little dirt. I’m a down-to-earth optimist

What would your theme song be?
Sunshine! Shining on me, nothing but sunshine do I see. Blue birds singing a song, nothing but blue birds all day long.

What’s your idea of funny?
Witty banter and clever pranks — not crude or overly humiliating

What hobbies/interests would you like to share with your date? What ways would you like them to differ from you?
I would like to share the interest of running, at least somewhat. I also have an interest in random facts that may only somewhat relate to conversation, and I would love it if my date did, too. A love for food is also a very positive trait, though loving to cook is not necessary (but not a bad thing either).

Describe where you would go on your ideal date.
On my ideal date we would go on a nice walk on some trails, and eat some place classy, but with character. And we would go to an outdoor show, or go home and watch a movie on the couch, or just sit together under the stars.

What are deal breakers (won’t date a smoker, age, etc.)?
I won’t date a smoker. I’m not really interested in someone with a really foul mouth either, though that might be hard to decipher from a 30-question survey.

If you could have any superpower what would it be?
The force. It would be so great to be able to move things without getting up.

Are you outgoing or shy?
A little bit of both

You’re stranded on an island. What three foods would you bring? Which three people would you want with you?
I would bring an endless supply of bananas, milk and Honey Nut Cheerios. Breakfast is the best meal of the day after all. The three people I would want with me are my two best friends and my sister.

What do you want to do when you graduate?
Do something that will make the world a better place for people to live in.

If you were a member of the circus, who would you be and why?
I would be the tightrope walker, because when I was little I always walked on anything narrow that might require balance. That, and I am not a huge fan of clowns, and playing with tigers is not my kind of thrill.

The Date

Stephanie: Before the date, I was wondering who he was. I was also thinking that it was really wet outside, because it was. I was just thinking, I don’t know, just if we were going to have fun. My friends were just like, “Oh, that’s so cool, have fun.” My mom was like, “Uhhm, make sure you stay in a public place because you don’t know this guy.”
Jeff: I mean, I was wondering who this person was. We met outside of Cohn’s in the rain. I was more wet than nervous. She got there first and I knew it was her because no one else would have been standing in the rain under an umbrella looking at everyone who passed by.

Stephanie: He was really friendly and didn’t seem nervous and so I wasn’t nervous. We got to talking really easily, so that was really good. He asked where I wanted to go and I said I [didn’t] know. He asked if I had ever been to Lemongrass and I said no but had heard it was good. He said, “Okay, let’s go to Lemongrass,” and so we immediately went, since again, it was raining, so we weren’t going to stand outside and chat.

Jeff: She seemed like a nice girl, open to talking. She didn’t seem nervous, just ready to meet someone new. We went straight to Lemongrass. We talked on the way there. We chatted about how we came to this little blind date, what led us there. And then the usual, classes and what’s going on today and stuff like that.

Stephanie: We talked about the weather for a little bit and I don’t know. We just did the typical get to know you questions.

Jeff: We waited to order. We talked for a little bit and sent the waitress away once, but ordered relatively quickly. I ordered sesame chicken. Spice level 6, which was critical, because it was one more than her spice level.

Stephanie: I ordered lemongrass and lime with a number 5 spice.

Jeff: The conversation was pleasant and enjoyable. It seemed to flow pretty naturally. We had quite a bit in common in terms of likes and tastes in movies and what we do in our spare time.

Stephanie: The conversation was really good. There weren’t really any lulls. We talked a lot about who we were and stuff. We talked about different books and movies and stuff that we liked and what was going on in our lives.

Jeff: She works at Ragged Mountain Running [Shop]. I learned it takes someone four months to find out what pair of running shoes you need, an entire semester. Then that led to a discussion about running and ROTC, which I am in and which she was thinking about. Her dad served four years and was in Germany, so we talked about her traveling. She backpacked through Italy and I had done a little of that in France, so we talked about that a little bit.

Stephanie: We had a lot in common. He had just run the Army 10-miler and I’m a pretty big runner so that was in common. We also are into epic movies and films and books like “Lord of the Rings” and “Harry Potter”. We had a pretty long conversation about “Gladiator.”

Jeff: She ran 16 miles the other day, and I was pretty impressed. I was dying after 10, so…

Stephanie: I had a lot of fun. After dinner, we paid and I guess we decided that was the end of the date. We were walking back and then he had to leave because there was a [resident adviser] meeting at Mellow Mushroom. We just kind of waved goodbye but we decided that we wanted to see each other again. We have each other’s numbers and he said he would give me a call.

Jeff: I did have fun. It was good. Good food, good conversation, good company. I would rank it a 7. Overall, it went pretty well. It wasn’t awkward, good conversation and she was fun to be around. We definitely left the option to hang out again on the table.

Stephanie: I guess I would give it a 9. It was really good.

After trading numbers, Jeff and Stephanie hope to get together sometime in the near future. Compiled by Jordan Hart.

Watch out, first-years. I hate to be the one to tell you this, but November has proven to be the month of breakups for high school sweethearts who have continued to date into college.

Don’t get me wrong. Many high school couples survive long into college, despite attending different schools and long distances. And don’t you go thinking that your 45-minute drive from here to JMU is the prime example of a long distance relationship and you’re managing to make it work. It’s still tough, I’m sure, but my friend here at U.Va., Emily, has been dating her boyfriend for two and a half years since high school and he goes to the University of South Florida! Not quite a drive you can do in one afternoon, just to show up and surprise them. So, it is definitely possible for couples to survive the jump from high school into college.

What I mean to say is that November is when the long-distance first-year couples, who really never had much of a shot to begin with, tend to break up. I think it’s because Thanksgiving is when everyone from high school is back home for the holidays. (A lot of times, fall breaks might not sync up in-between schools, but every school has the same general Thanksgiving break.) Then, amidst the cornucopias and cranberry sauce, relationships seem to end.

Nelson Mandela has a famous quote that goes, “There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.” I think that helps explain why couples seem to break up around this time. They go back home and their houses, families and pets are all still the same, but something about going off to college and living on your own changes people, even the slightest bit. And oftentimes relationships are no longer the same afterward.

Also, individuals who already have breakups on their minds may be waiting to see their partner in person before cutting the relationship ties. We all know that no good can come about from a breakup over e-mail, text message, phone call or ­— heaven forbid — a wall post. So when couples see each other around Thanksgiving, the breakup may have been coming for weeks already.

Furthermore, I just read in the latest issue of Cosmo that couples are more than twice as likely to think about breaking up between the holidays and Valentine’s Day. The reasons the magazine gives for this strange occurrence include the pressure and stress of these intense few months and that energy levels are lower during cold winter weather. People also tend to be moodier during the seasons in question.

Nevertheless, every relationship is different, and if you can make it through Thanksgiving break, then all the more power to you. My sorority sister, Heather, and her boyfriend made it from high school to different colleges, through her first-year Thanksgiving Break, and all the way up until now, almost three years since that Thanksgiving in 2006, and he just so happened to propose a couple of weeks ago. So there is hope that things can and will work out for everyone in the end.

So in conclusion, I am just asking you to be wary. Watch out for the last few days in November. For a variety of reasons, things can be a little bumpy. Just make sure that whatever you choose to do, make sure it’s for the right reasons. Don’t stay together purely out of habit and history if you’re aching to try something else. And don’t simply break up just because you’re dying to see if that sexy third-year in your philosophy class is as uninhibited in the bedroom as he is in the classroom. Do what you want — just think about it first.

Jordan’s column runs biweekly Mondays. She can be reached at j.hart@cavalierdaily.com.