Iowa State President Martin Jischke said overall the 1998-99 school year has been successful.

“We’ve expanded the learning community’s project at Iowa State; our enrollment has grown,” he said. “We’ve hired a new dean of liberal sciences; we’re at the tail end of hiring a new provost.”

Jischke said there were several noteworthy moments during this school year.

“Events that come to my mind certainly include the victory of the university over [the University of] Iowa in football; the celebration of George Washington Carver; I thought Elizabeth Dole’s lecture was … one of those electric moments at the university,” he said.

He also credited the accomplishments of the women’s basketball team with making the year a memorable one in terms of athletics.

“I think the success of the women’s basketball team was extraordinary. [It is] possibly one of the strongest athletic teams we’ve had at Iowa State in a very long time,” he said.

Jim Hutter, associate professor of political science, also said he thought the team was outstanding.

“The girl’s basketball team had a terrific year that elevated them from the point where not very many people wanted to go to their games to where literally thousands attended them,” he said.

Murray Blackwelder, vice president for External Affairs, said the George Washington Carver celebration was one of the year’s high points.

“I believe we incorporated a lot of the different colleges and a lot of the different events,” he said. “I think it was a meaningful experience to all who participated in it.”

Though attendance was relatively low for this year’s Veishea, Jischke labeled it a success.

“I thought we had a terrific Veishea this year,” he said. “I was very proud of the students.”

Blackwelder said it has been a “calm” year for the External Affairs office.

“We didn’t seem to get a major negative discussion item going all year,” he said. “I think the most negative thing happened [Tuesday], as far as I’m concerned — the defeat of the Hilton Coliseum [expansion] vote.”

Hutter said several things set this year apart, such as having snow during Veishea and a low voter turnout for Government of the Student Body elections.

Jischke said he hopes students feel, as he does, that this year was a step forward.

“I hope that for all the students it was an academically successful year,” he said. “I hope their studies were rewarding, and they’ve had an opportunity to learn and grow.”