Curriculum Changes

Paul M. Dunn: Well, there's no question of what the general attitude of most of the forestry administrators was. We favored men students in keeping with the requirements of the job. It would not be easy for any woman to associate herself with the obligations of the job, and particularly the work relationships. So the general attitude of a lot of us was that we were apprehensive of the effect of women students.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: Why do you think it is different today?

Paul M. Dunn: Over a period of years it has been recognized that in certain areas, women can cope with the various aspects of the working relationships with the men in forestry. Some professors and some people in industry were reluctant to accept the change. It wasn't an easy situation. As to why it's different now, I think the general attitude has changed, and many of the women in the forestry field are performing their work assignments very satisfactorily. Times have changed.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: How do you feel the environmental and conservation movements has effected the field of forestry and the School?

Paul M. Dunn: It has changed the whole program decidedly. I think there have been benefits from the introduction of the philosophy of the environmentalists with the professional program. It is somewhat related to the desires of the general public. That situation was not present, you might say, during previous years. There wasn't the demand, or the need, by the general public, to not only be involved but to use the forest areas as they are using them now. There's a change in attitude on the part of many people, who are a bit extreme in the way they think that the forest property should be managed. So the general attitude toward the management of the forest land is quite different from what it was some years ago.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: Have you seen this change in the School of Forestry, in curriculum, for example?

Paul M. Dunn: Yes. That came along over the years. Up until the war time, there was relatively little attention given to what we first called Forest Recreation, or the instruction related to Forest Recreation. It was considered as a related forest use, so no great emphasis was placed on it. But, later it was realized that that type of forest use was needed, and has been accepted.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: When was this realized?

Paul M. Dunn: About the war time or shortly after, because we added a staff man, about the mid-1940's to give emphasis to forest recreation courses.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: Who was this?

Paul M. Dunn: Professor Warren R. Randall. The emphasis on Forest Recreation was also duplicated at other forestry schools and has been expanded considerably. This is primarily because, subsequent to the war, of the desire of more and more people to get into the forest areas for recreational purposes.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: What do you think of the Department of Resource Recreation Management as being a part of the School of Forestry?

Paul M. Dunn: I think the addition of the Department was natural because of the changing philosophy and the added interest in the use of forest resources.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: You see it as a positive addition?

Paul M. Dunn: Yes. Oh, yes.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: You left for a number of years in 1955 and then came back in 1968. I understand to work for St. Regis Paper Company. Can you generally give me an idea of what major changes you could see in the School of Forestry from the time that you were Dean to the present?

Paul M. Dunn: During that period there was a decided change. An increase in interest in the forests and in the department of the Forest Resources. Economics was a major factor in, not only the forest industry, but in the administration of state and federal lands. The importance of forest resources has changed considerably and the land values, timber values, and other values are much greater than ever before. That recognition resulted in increased interest in forestry and in increased enrollment and in recognition of the need for forest research, in both management and products. The programs, associated with forestry throughout the nation, have developed to a higher level than ever before. That was very evident here at OSU. The administration of the School of Forestry accepted the situation and planned a fine, expanded program. So it's quite different now.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: Where do you think the School of Forestry is headed?

Paul M. Dunn: I think it will continue to grow and continue to cope with its various responsibilities.

Royal Jackson / Jennifer Lee: How is this energy crisis affecting the forestry field?