New Man at Chicago

When the committee searching for a new president for the University of Chicago first approached John T. Wilson, 61, earlier this year, he turned them down; he apparently felt the post should go to a younger man.

Turning to its countrywide list of 200 candidates, the committee diligently narrowed its choices to six by November and then, last week, to one. Offered the job again, John Wilson did not demur. He thus became a striking exception to the recent trend in university presidencies, which have been going to people in their late 30s to early 50s. Nonetheless, his appearance--a thick shock of silvery hair, bushy eyebrows and square-set jaw--belies his age.

Wilson has, in fact, been acting president at Chicago since Edward Levi left last February to become U.S. Attorney General. Before that, Wilson, who holds a Ph.D. in psychology from Stanford, was Levi's right-hand man as provost for five years, and earlier was dean of faculties. One of Wilson's toughest jobs as president will be to sustain the threeyear, $280 million fund drive designed to keep Chicago one of the top universities in the nation; started in June 1974, the fund drive has produced $110 million so far.

Even though as provost he had to enforce painful budget cuts, Wilson is popular with the faculty. He already had a run-in with leaders of the student government, however, after they told him last month that they were going to launch an "investigation" of Economics Professor Milton Friedman and his ties with economists in the Chilean junta. A vigorous defender of academic freedom, Wilson replied that he would not tolerate an inquisition. In other matters, Wilson is also a stout individualist; he even turns out to watch Chicago's largely ignored football games.

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