Wells bust to keep leader’s ‘legacy alive’

The bust of Herman B Wells sat under a white cloth, ready to be unveiled.\nMore than 100 people gathered at 2:30 p.m. Friday in the front lobby of the Wells Library for the dedication and unveiling of the long-anticipated bust of the former IU president and chancellor.\nThe dedication ceremony was highlighted by speeches from newly inaugurated President Michael McRobbie and Interim Dean of Libraries Patricia Steele. \n“So much that (Wells) accomplished defines what Indiana University is today,” McRobbie said. \nThe bust, sculpted by nationally acclaimed artist Marc Mellon, was a gift from the IU Foundation, said Susan Yoon, director of development for the IUB Libraries. The IUB Libraries contributed the marble pedestal the bust sits upon at the entrance of the Wells Library. \nYoon said the bust has been in the works for more than a year, and the unveiling happened to coincide perfectly with the inauguration of President McRobbie and “Celebrate IU” week.\nYoon said the bust is intended to help keep the memory of Wells alive. She said she hopes the bust will also raise student awareness as to who Herman B Wells was and how he influenced the IU campus. \n“Some of the administrators were here when (Wells) was here and they remember him, but 20 years from now, who knows,” Yoon said. “We want to increase student knowledge.” \nSteele said she was happily surprised by how enthusiastic student response was to the idea. \n“The response from the students has been incredible,” Steele said. “I thought having the bust right where everybody comes in would help students to visualize him. But I was not prepared for the enthusiasm. It’s very gratifying and I think it speaks very well for the students. I think they really understand that he made a difference here.”\nLaurie Burns McRobbie, President McRobbie’s wife, said she had heard of the legendary president and chancellor all the way back in Ann Arbor, Mich.\n“I knew a little bit about (Wells) and that he was a legendary president,” she said. “If you’re around the Big Ten, you get an idea of other schools’ traditions, but I didn’t realize how deeply loved he was by the institution.”\nPeople at the ceremony and reception area sang the praises of the late president and chancellor. In McRobbie’s speech, he credited Wells for the success of the music school, as well as for a commitment to the fine arts and for the beauty and reputation of the IU campus.\n“The quality of this campus is his vision realized,” Steele said. \nSteele said the strength of Wells’ belief in what IU could become is what made him such an excellent president.\n“He had a vision,” Steele said, “and he saw this place as something probably no one else would.”\nSteele said she can see a similar strength of vision in President McRobbie. She said McRobbie is going to take the international ties, forged by Wells, and lead IU into the “next generation.” \n “It was hard to be around Herman Wells and not feel the force of his personality,” Steele said. “And it’s very hard to be around Michael McRobbie and not feel the force of his vision and energy. And maybe that’s where we can connect them because vision and energy really are both of them.”\nThe bust of Wells is located at the main entrance of the Wells Library. The bust faces the door, smiling and greeting everyone as they enter the building.