USD Magazine, 1993 Winter-Spring 1994

He calls himself the

Dean of Wildlife,

but thanks to Tom

Burke's unerring

wisdom and guiding

few years ago, Tom Burke got word that a fraternity on campus was planning an

hand, student life at

unsanctioned event at a hotel in Palm Springs. So USD's vice president for student affairs and dean of students defused the problem in his usual style: He "leaked" the news to students that he and his wife, Barbara, would be enjoying the weekend at that very same hotel. USO President Author E. Hughes throws back his head and laughs when he hears that story. "That sounds like Tom," he comments. "There is nobody who knows the mind of an 18- to 22-year-old better than Tom Burke." That knowledge is something Burke has earned during a 35-year career in student affairs. During that time, Burke, 57, has seen college campuses grapple with the civil rights movement, the sexual revolution, anti-war protests, cynicism, apathy, and drug and alcohol abuse. In short, there isn't much Burke hasn't seen or heard. That's why his continuing compassion for students and calm, optimistic outlook are viewed with wonder and enormous grati– tude by almost everyone connected with USO. "I couldn't do his job," Hughes admits, shaking his head. "It has to be tough when what you're dealing with constantly are the neg– atives - the mistakes students make or the complaints people have." Rudy Spano, USD's director of dining services, echoes Hughes' assessment and adds his own tongue-in-cheek view of what he sees as a nearly impossible job. "I think when universities were first started, whoever was in charge took all the areas that nobody else wanted, like dining services, the health center, housing, athletics and student discipline, and stuck them all in one area and called it 'Student Affairs,'" he laughs. "Really, if you look at it, Burke's division probably has all the worst headaches and nightmares."

USD has been

relatively tame for

the past 10 years.

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