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Show Kerr urges cooperation between Cedar and St. George I If i Stating his priorities as President of Dixie College, Pres. W. Rolfe Kerr said a spirit of cooperation between St. George and Cedar City is needed "for the betterment of the southern part of the state. " Speaking at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon Thursday, Pres. Kerr said athletic competition is good, "but some areas between the two cities need cooperation, not competition. We're in it together and I'm here to do what I can to help." Kerr said one of his goals as president of the St. George-based junior college is to institute a "needs orientation" program. That is, he said, to discover what the needs of the area, how they can be met and which agency can best do the job. He said the two colleges and the school districts in the area should work together to meet needs. "Not who does what, but what needs to be done," he explained. Relating the story of Alexander Fleming, discoverer of penicillin, saving the life of Winston Churchill, who in turn paid for Fleming's education, Kerr said, "this is the kind of relationship that ought to exist between SUSC and Dixie and Cedar City and St. George." Kerr also said he has a real committment to teach character in higher education. "We see," he said, "a shocking deterioration of basic values, things that are important and basic to people. Every avenue of humanities should emphasize those things that will retain the basic values of society. "We need to teach more than English, math and the sciences. We should also teach things that will aid in the acquisition of a sound character." Kerr said this aspect of education was sometimes a "delicate area" because of the tendency to believe denominational interests will mix in. But, he added, there is a common set of values for the common good of man that can be exemplified. "Too often we bend over backwards making sure we avoid the church and state problem," he said. "We need stiff enough spines to face up to the challenge of moral values." A Tremonton native, educated at Utah State University and the University of Utah, Kerr took over as administrative head of Dixie College in the fall of this year. CHAMBER SPEAKER. Rolfe Kerr, president of Dixie College, urged the Cedar City Chamber of Commerce to be united as well as athletically competitive with St. George for the betterment of southern Utah. |
