Dr. Donald Groff (interview); Creator: Groff, Dr. Donald ; Interviewer(s): David Fish and Ken Hamm; Interview location: Groff's home; Running time: 60 min., May 3, 1996

Coverage: 1960s-1996
Topics discussed : (side A): WestConn vs. the other state colleges; departments could grow w/ each other at WestConn; couldn't do this at other schools; Geology department; they were able to work w/ other science departments; Dr. Bersi; The financial problems of the 1970s and 1980s; the economic crunch lead to departments battling each other; Dr. Steinkrauss and his problems w/ him; Management at WestConn; the union at WestConn; head of foreign language told him they don't know how to be a university because people didn't know how to support each other; Dr. Haas; looked at people for human qualities and capabilities; very supportive of faculty; allowed field trips during the summer and use of college vehicles; when business school came in, money started to become tight and budgets were being cut, people were leaving; Dr. Steinkrauss; Jim Pagoloti; in the library; Dean of Arts and Sciences when he came; was vice President of St. Peter's in New Jersey; WestConn and its failures; will continue to fail as long as there are 30 separate "empires" (depts.); as long as each look out for itself and not each other, things will remain; there are a few individuals who care about the whole (like Dr. Janick); Dr. Janick; he is helping making WestConn a true university; Course taking; need to take more than just one kind; need variety; Advent of the union; was needed in order to protect the faculty; union doesn't bring unity to the departments though; Importance of history of WestConn; names don't matter, attitudes do; when Pagoloti raised concern, he was fired (later given "leave"); they hired Dr. Hawkes to replace him (side B): Dr. Hawkes; she didn't fight for the rights of faculty like Pagoloti did; she is a "yes" person; not a "team player"; "she took orders" from Steinkrauss; Faculty senate; 1986; 87 began to hold meetings to complain about president Feldman; most faculty didn't care for Feldman; Dr. Roach; he is very knowledgeable; knows geology; started environmental program w/ "monkey lady"; Dr. Haas; was very receptive, but also in charge; Dr. Bersi; was just trying to bring money to WestConn and get Westside; Dr. Feldman; was a "mistake"; Not sure where he stands on Dr. Roach yet; believes the college, in terms of leadership, gone down since Dr. Haas; Money; WestConn is playing "power and money games"; Dr. Rasor; "Good Old Days"; the days where you could think for yourself and express yourself; the days when Dr. Haas was president; Dean Burton Cook; Higgins Annex; Kent Smith; biology professor; Memories of a student; took physical geology w/ him 3 times; took him awhile, but eventually caught on; Do; Day; preceded him; Chairmen of the Geology department