capen took the position at buffalo less than two years after the school had completed a $5,000,000 endowment campaign. capen was its first salaried and full-time chancellor. upon his installment, capen was looked upon as a nationally known education expert. at his presidential inauguration, capen expressed his philosophy of equal access to education. "i do not hold with those who would limit the number of college students on the basis of any distinctions of race or sex or creed or social standing. there is but one justifiable basis on which a university in a democratic community such as this can choose those who are to become members of it, the basis of ability," he said.