Extended Commentary

Richard D. Erb, BA ’63

Former deputy managing director, International Monetary Fund

During my sophomore year (1960–61), I became involved with a small group of students who wanted a more intellectual environment on campus—an environment that would foster learning and debate on national social and political subjects and pay more attention to the humanities and arts. The former included, for example, civil rights and political freedom (the House Un-American Activities Committee was still holding hearings at that time in Buffalo).

’63 - Richard D. Erb, BA ’63 - Former deputy managing director, International Monetary Fund

’63 - Richard D. Erb, BA ’63 - Former deputy managing director, International Monetary Fund

The group was quite diverse and included students from the dental and medical schools as well as undergraduates. Two of the undergraduates were older and had been active in union activities during part of their career. There was one female member and one African American member of the group.

At some point along the way, we came to a consensus that student government might provide a way to achieve our objectives. At that time, the student government was run by fraternities and sororities and focused on social and sport events.

I don’t recall the details or reasons, but three of us were chosen to run for president, vice president and treasurer of the student senate. We were members of the debate team. For my part, I certainly had no aspirations to become involved in student government. Our presidential candidate was a member of a fraternity but the VP candidate and I were not members, which was a break with the past. Others ran for seats on the senate under our party name. We won by a substantial margin.

During the summer, I took the lead as treasurer and developed a budget that would provide significant resources for the activities we had discussed, including a major speakers program, artistic events (including readings by poets and authors), the student newspaper, a new student literary publication and the debate team. To fund these activities, I proposed a significant increase in the student activity fee. I was concerned that it would be rejected but it was approved by the senate. In the spring of my junior year (1962), I ran for president and was not opposed.

What was accomplished by student government during a very active two-year period was not the result of what my predecessor and I did as presidents or “leaders,” but rather the result of collaborative leadership by many individuals. When examining why some institutions succeed and others fail, whether in the private or public sector, it is critical to look at the way leadership is expressed throughout the organization, not just in the office of one charismatic individual.