Diether H. Haenicke (1935-2009) was the fifth president of Western Michigan University from 1985 to 1998, and also served one year as interim president from 2006 to 2007. He wrote columns for the local paper - the Kalamazoo Gazette that were later published in a book Wednesdays with Diether. We have received permission to archive some of these pieces here in ScholarWorks.
Articles from 2009
Articulating good ideas in a speech is not the same as originating them, Diether Haenicke
As universities cash in on sports mania, is something being lost?, Diether Haenicke
Baseball instruction from American G.I. helpful for the German immigrant, Diether Haenicke
Being sick allows one to enjoy love of family and friends and professional care, Diether Haenicke
Be thankful for our loved ones, near and far, on this most American of holidays, Diether Haenicke
Body odor: Aura's aroma or olfactory assault?, Diether Haenicke
Business community, society must demand literacy skills for all, Diether Haenicke
Camaraderie of youth gives way to nostalgia, Diether Haenicke
Challenges did not keep Bach from making music, Diether Haenicke
Consumerism takes center stage as youth prepare for back to school, Diether Haenicke
Despite the winter jokes, you just can't put Michigan and its weather down, Diether Haenicke
Don't forget to read the fine print before searching for customer service, Diether Haenicke
Don't wait until it's too late to tell a friend how you feel about him, Diether Haenicke
Each generation carries greatness within it, Diether Haenicke
English may be a living language but that doesn't mean anything goes, Diether Haenicke
English may be a living language but that doesn't mean anything goes, Diether Haenicke
Enjoy those senior discounts, they're the only tangible benefit of aging, Diether Haenicke
Family support essential to a student's success, Diether Haenicke
Feel sorry for the workaholic who fails to realize how precious time is, Diether Haenicke
Fiction plays loose with the facts in Dan Brown's conspiracy-driven world, Diether Haenicke
Flags, birds, angels: Address labels reflect a history of charitable giving, Diether Haenicke
Forgotten by history, Hetty Green knew how to invest and save money, Diether Haenicke
Gentlemen regard restrooms as sanctuaries of privacy, Diether Haenicke
Hans Christian Anderson was an ugly duckling in life but a swan as a writer, Diether Haenicke
Helicopter parents need to stop hovering and let their children take control, Diether Haenicke
Incensed at 'incent'? Don't decool as I present, Diether Haenicke
It has become increasingly more difficult for village to raise children, Diether Haenicke
It's easier to criticize those who govern, than to govern yourself, Diether Haenicke
Meeting American veterans taught lesson about propaganda's deceitfulness, Diether Haenicke
Play is reminder that real beauty is found on the inside not the outside, Diether Haenicke
Reflections on New Year's Eve, Diether Haenicke
Right after Thanksgiving, Americans get serious about Christmas., Diether Haenicke
Road rage may not be permissible, but it sure can be understandable, Diether Haenicke
Supermarket proves itself a fascinating laboratory on human behavior, Diether Haenicke
Television reporters communicate clearly, but not always in English, Diether Haenicke
The high and mighty give themselves bonuses, while the rank-and-file suffer, Diether Haenicke
There's no absolution or negotiation as grades are not given, they are earned, Diether Haenicke
Tombstone epitaphs open mind to thoughts of history and mystery, Diether Haenicke
Universities are not businesses and should not be run as if they are, Diether Haenicke
What's in remembering a name? Imagine if Diether had become Peter, Diether Haenicke
When a telephone was a luxury and everyone in the neighborhood used it, Diether Haenicke
Writers and speakers should be more careful about their grammar, Diether Haenicke
Young freshmen have a knack for putting old professors in their places, Diether Haenicke
Articles from 2008
A little too much political correctness on college campuses at Christmas, Diether Haenicke
Ayers' ties to higher education are more troubling than ties to Obama, Diether Haenicke
Better to look good than cool; clothes do make the person, Diether Haenicke
From European royalty to African villages, indoor plumbing rarer than you think, Diether Haenicke
If these are our 'best people,' then Wall Street and America are in trouble, Diether Haenicke
In college, a half-century ago, students, professors kept it formal, Diether Haenicke
Michigan doesn't fare well in latest national education statistics, Diether Haenicke
Reflections on a nation at war as we look to the beginning of a new year, Diether Haenicke
Sixty years later, a confirmation celebration of the start of adulthood, Diether Haenicke
Theater productions at Stratford, Ontario, are large and superb, Diether Haenicke
These women blazed a trail in math and science for other women to follow, Diether Haenicke
Up North, the woods are beautiful, and they help screen out the election, Diether Haenicke
Whether old or young, readers of this column have interesting insights, Diether Haenicke