Page 4 - CROSSROADS - Monday, November 20,1972
Focus
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Father Francis
Forster, O.S.B.
“Why is it that the only time
that people appreciate the im
portance of keeping records is
when something gets snafu’d or
lost?’’ mused the custodian of
the college records as he leaned
back in his swivel chair and
puffed on a fat black stogie.
Fortunately, for Belmont Abbey
College, break-downs are rare in
the registrar’s office under the
capable direction of Fr. Francis
Forster, O.S.B. The smooth
operation doesn’t just happen; it
is the result of ceaseless efforts
on his part to improvfe the ef
ficiency of service to the
students and faculty.
The youngest of six children.
Father Francis was born in
Willard, Ohio, just about forty
years ago. His baptismal cer
tificate reads Philip Joseph
Forster. Those were the difficult
times of the depression, and the
Forster family moved to a farm
to make a go of things. Phil’s
earliest memories are filled with
bucolic images of milking cows,
News In
Education
REPORT GIVES DATA ON 275
INDEPENDENT CATHOLIC
COLLEGES
Data about the nation’s 275
traditionally Catholic colleges
arc contained in a report
released this week by the
National Catholic Educational
Association. The study shows
that total enrollment in the in
stitutions increased by four
percent to 451,000 in 1970-71,
mostly in part-time students.
Enrollment increased in 142
institutions, but declined in 129.
Since 1970, the report notes,
seven of the 275 institutions
closed and six have merged.
Other highlights of the report:
Of the approximately 2,500
colleges and universities in 1970,
about 1,500 were private and
enrolled 25 percent of the
students. Catholic colleges
represented 18 percent of the
private institutions and about 20
percent of the private
enrollment.
feeding the pigs, and herding the
sheep to pasture. Young Phil
had to help with the chores
alongside his brothers. At
harvest time he learned to
handle the big green John Deere
tractor, struggled with the
dusty sacks of wheat and oats,
huskod corn and pitched hay for
the stock. The conditions of the
farm were rustic-there was the
artesian well which provided
cool, sweet water; the great iron
stove in the kitchen
(which devoured a constant
supply of wood); the pungent
kerosene lamps which had to be
replenished each week. There
was the privy down by the back
fence (called the ‘Democrat’
because it was made by W.P.A.
program under the Roosevelt
administration) and the large
fireplace around which the
family gathered during the
winter evenings while the wind
drove the snow into deep drifts
against the house and barn.
, Phil attended a typical country
school, a small red frame
building of three rooms which
was staffed by three teachers
who managed all eight grades.
When conditions made it im
possible for the school bus to get
through, Phil had to trudge the
three miles to school and back
through the rigors of the Ohio
winter. When he was ten,
America became involved in
World War II, and the older boys
went off to military service.
Because the farm quickly
became too taxing for Mr.
Forster alone, the family again
moved into the town of Willard.
In High School Phil
distinguished himself in
athletics. He was elected cap
tain of the football team in his
senior year. That year he was
also named to the All-Ohio team
and offered a scholarship to
Purdue University. No less
outstanding in studies, he
finished close to the top of his
As of fall 1968, enrollment
included 72 percent full-time
students, 82 percent un
dergraduates, and 56 percent
male. The 1968-69 curricula were
strongly based in liberal arts
with about 20 percent of the
degrees earned on the graduate
level. The 1971-72 teaching
faculty included 71 percent full
time, with 46 percent having
earned doctoral degrees and 47
percent master’s degrees.
The average excess of current
fund revenue over current fund
expenses for all institutions was
$69,000 in 1968-69 and $36,000 in
1970-71, a 48 percent decline.
Educational and general
revenue increased 19 percent,
but educational and general
expenses increased 20 percent.
Revenue from tuition and fees
increased 22 percent over the
two years, accounting for 71
percent of all educational and
general revenue in 1970-71.
Church support, a negligible
revenue factor, was 0.2 percent.
The 1968-69 current fund ex-
penditure-per-student was
$2,014, compared to $2,105
reported by the U.S. Office of
Education for all public in
stitutions.
The most commonly used
high-school class. Since money
was rather scarce at home, Phil
worked in his spare time as an
auto mechanic to help with his
personal expenses. Motors still
intrigue him and he likes nothing
better than to strip down an
engine to see how it ticks.
About the time that Phil was
'finishing school, the Korean war
erupted. He enlisted for a four-
year hitch in the Air Force and
was sent to Wichita Falls, Tex.
for basic training. Further
schooling in long-distance
telephone communications
followed at Cheynee, Wyo. He
was then assigned to duty in
Seoul, Korea for a year. One of
the bright spots of his tour in the
Orient was the R & R trips to
Tokyo, Japan. Upon return to
the United States he was
stationed at Donaldson AFB in
-Greenville, S.C. While there he
became acquainted with
Belmont Abbey College and
visited the campus twice. After
his discharge Phil decided to
continue his education, and in
September of 1955 he enrolled at
the Abbey. His first two years of
college followed the general
liberal arts curriculum.
Throughout these months of
-study the thought of a vocation
continued to preoccupy his mind.
In 1957 he decided to give the
religious life a trial and entered
the novitiate of Belmont Abbey
to become a Benedictine monk.
It was at this time that he chose
the name Francis because it had
been very important in his
family, and also because he had
special admiration of great saint
from Assisi.
With his novitiate year com
pleted, Fr. Francis made first
vows and reentered the College
to earn an A.B. degree in
philosophy. In 1960 he entered
upon the theological studies
leading to the priesthood at
Belmont Abbey seminary.
These reached culmination at his
Federal programs were for
student financial aid. Of the $107
million reported by 161 in
stitutions for all Federal
programs in 1970-71, about 38
percent was for building con
struction, 33 percent for student
financial aid, 21 percent for
various educational and health
research projects, and eight
percent for other programs.
The report notes that the
greatest expansion in Catholic
higher education took place
between 1900 and 1950. During
that period, 44 coeducational
colleges, 70 women’s colleges,
and five men’s colleges opened
their doors. Since 1950, an ad
ditional 14 coeducational
colleges, 12 women’s colleges,
and two men’s colleges were
established. Prior to 1900 theie
were only two Catholic junior
colleges. Between 1950 and 1970,
however, 30 were established.
Although the report is largely
statistical and does not present-
recommendations or projec
tions, it notes: “Unless some
kind of financial solution or
assistance comes forth soon,
many private college and
universities cannot hold back the
consequences of recent and
current deficits, much less play
ordination by Bishop Reh of
Charleston in June of 1964.
For the next year, Fr. Francis
did graduate work in philosophy
at the Catholic University of
America. He returned to
Belmont Abbey to become a
full-time Instructor in the
philosophy department. In 1968
he took on the additional work of
institutional research which is so
vital to planning tor the future
development of the College.
In June of 1970 the President
named him Registrar of the
College. In this position he has
discharged his responsibilities
for academic records and the
registration process with
dispatch. He has been par
ticularly interested in com
puterizing the procedures of
record keeping. If he is able to
implement a project close to his
heart, the College will embark
during the Spring term upon a
system of pre-registration of
students for the next year.
Less well known but no less
significant are his contributions
to the electronics and stage
lighting of the Abbey dramatic
productions and reviews. He
also has set up and maintained
all of the public address
equipment for athletic events,
graduation exercises, and
special events in the college
union.
Although dedicated to work,
Fr. Francis still manages to find
time for some hobbies. He has
been an avid model railroad
builder. He loves swimming and
fishing. While vacationing in
Denver, Col., last summer, he
learned the art of panning gold.
He now has a new ambition to
test local streams and the
historic old ‘gold mine’ on the
Abbey property for traces of the
precious metal. Most people
here suspect that if his success in
other ventures is any gauge, Fr.
Francis will “strike it rich’’ in
the near future!
a dynamic role on the American
educational scene.’’
HIGHER EDUCATION AND
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
VOL, XXI, NO, 29 July 28, 1972
Fr. Kenneth
Attends Conference
Our chaplain Fr. Kenneth
attended an ecumenical con
ference on HUMAN
SEXUALITY: CRISIS IN
MORALITY at Yale University
Oct. 2-6. There were some
twelve Protestant ministers and
Jewish Rabbis in the conference,
which was led by fifteen experts
from the Yale faculty. A most
rewarding and enlightening
experience. Fr. Kenneth was
also present at the in
terdenominational retreat for
college students held at Camp
Greer Oct. 20-22. The retreat
was more of a treat than a
retreat, Fr. Kenneth remarked,
no one preached at us; no one let
us pray-ed us to death.” Instead
each participant ministered one
to the other through group en
counter sessions which resulted
in a live, refreshing and in
spiring application of Christian
ideals. —Another such retreat is
being planned for Spring-