Clad in a red cardigan and saddle shoes, UW-Madison's newest dean of students promised Friday in an impassioned speech to foster a more
eighborly"" environment at Wisconsin's largest public university.
With historic Bascom Hall as his backdrop, newly appointed Dean of Students Fred Rogers pledged that he will work to promote a oneness among students, regardless of race, creed or sexual orientation. Rogers, a 74-year-old Pittsburgh native, is better known to millions of children as Mr. Rogers, host of the seminal public television program ""Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood."" He will succeed Alicia Chavez. Rogers' pleas for togetherness took a familiar tone to the thousand-odd onlookers.
""It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor,"" Rogers said. ""Won't you be mine?""
Rogers was chosen from a pool of applicants that was widely considered to be full of promise, according to administration watchers. Rumors abounded that Bill Cosby, the beloved Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable, could be the university's next dean. In the end, however, the committee charged with finding a dean of students settled on Rogers, a recipient of many honorary degrees from universities like Yale and Carnegie Mellon. After the committee made its choice, the decision was approved by Associate Vice Chancellor for Appointments and Vacancies Reginald VelJohnson.
""What a choice,"" VelJohnson said. ""Who better to bridge the many gaps at this university than Mr. Fred Rogers, the architect of well rounded children and young adults? I fully expect significant results.""
Rogers' management team has yet to be made clear, but administration sources told The Daily Cardinal that Rogers will likely appoint longtime friend and U.S. Postal Service carrier Mr. McFeely as his associate dean. McFeely refused comment.
After 33 years of starring in and producing his children's television show, Mr. Rogers left the public spotlight last year, saying he had accomplished everything he had set out to do. University administration, he said, seemed like the logical next step.
Rogers immediately elicited squeals of joy and approval from all students in attendance by playfully tossing his shoes in the air and zipping his cardigan sweater up and down.
""Me likey,"" said a member of the dean's search and screen committee from Minnesota who wished not to be identified.
Students were seen hugging and shaking hands mere seconds after Rogers' announcement. Onlookers hoped aloud that the university would be a lot more like the neighborhood of make-believe.
