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Comments:
raymond - 2004-07-21 14:19:32 http://supportemu.org/* * * * * * * * * * * * Scott - 2004-07-21 22:35:35 Thanks to both of you, I am concerned about the direction and impression EMU has taken over the last year and a half. I am very curious abouting starting a drive of awarness and hopefully removal of the BOR!* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-21 23:24:33 Thanks for the petition link Steven; signed it.* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-22 00:09:27 The info included in the petition was very helpful, by the way, in giving an explanation about the issue.* * * * * * * * * * * * Scott - 2004-07-22 07:48:06 And the list is growing. This has to be a hot button topic for all interested in saving EMU good, educational, and influential name. Please forward this link to all friends and interested parties. Thanks S* * * * * * * * * * * * Dirtgrain - 2004-07-22 12:55:13 How come so many of the regents are business people? How about some normal people? Is the board of regents a stepping-stone to something else? A political career?* * * * * * * * * * * * Jane Irwin - 2004-07-22 15:39:07 Sign me up. As a '96 graduate of EMU, I'm still aghast at the way that university wastes its valuable resources, even before the atrocity of the University House. When I got there, they had just dumped a couple million to add seating for 20,000 nonexistant fans in Rynearson, while shrinking the rooms in the Virgin Vaults from 4-person to single occupancy, because they couldn't fill the dorms. Then, they dumped some obscene amount (I remember a figure near $1M) to build a Pond and "Boathouse" behind the Rec-IM. None of this got used regularly, except for the occasional meeting, and obliterated some perfectly good sand-volleyball courts. Now, while they had money to build stadiums and ponds, here's what else they did: They had let Sherzer atrophy until it literally burned down, and only after they got the insurance settlement did they build a new art department. They had let Pease atrophy until it was condemned. Pease has, in many people's opinion, some of the best acoustics of any concert hall in the US (second only to Hill, which is said by many to have the finest). They let Welsh atrophy until it was almost condemned. They let the woefully-underfunded Graphic Design department remain on the second floor of Ford Hall, where my friend Joe was turned away from taking Graphic Design, a class which is a requisite for an Art Major, because his wheelchair couldn't get to the classroom. And, let's not forget the atrocity of a library we had during my entire stint at EMU. After failing to find decent materials there for the third or fourth time, I gave up and did all my research at the UGLI. Somehow, despite all this, I had an incredible time at EMU. I got a spectacular education at the art department, thanks to greats like John Pappas, the late Larry Freeman, Richard Rubenfeld, and the late Bob Chew. I refuse to give money to EMU as an alumni, because I know they'll squander it again, on frivolous nonsense like the University House. I'm thinking of starting a small Art Scholarship instead. However, a fund like this might just get some attention from me as well. * * * * * * * * * * * * Scott - 2004-07-22 16:55:53 I think you'll find it interesting that all these regents were appointed by Engler(Bungler). Specifically, the former CEO of K-Mart. How funny is that, Midas touch! Please refer to this past Sundays Ypsi News front page to see all the regents and their accomplishments, I have taken the liberty to send this petition to at least 45 people, and I encourage all of us to send this to people who care about what message is originating from Ypsi and more specifically EMU! S * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-22 18:55:20 Jane: thank you for an outstanding rundown on the mismanagement of $ by EMU. Hey, I was a '96 alum too! In Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, a small and excellent department (one of only 3 schools in MI that offers it--U-M doesn't!) I am appalled to read about your friend Joe. Isn't that just a plain old violation of state law? Don't all publicly-funded institutions need to be accessible to the public that funds them? (fumes!) I don't like over-litigiousness but this is just too much--I wonder if he could still file suit. Scott: the Engler-appointments are indeed strange, especially since Raymond indicated that usually some regents are elected. * * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-22 18:59:48 I see the petition is up to 33 signatures in a mere 3 days--hope it keeps rolling!* * * * * * * * * * * * tom - 2004-07-23 07:58:38 Jane, Pease Auditorium has been restored. I haven't been there since the restoration, but I hear it is nice. Laura, the regents for UofM, MSU, and Wayne State are all elected. The regents for all other public universities in the state are appointed by the governor.* * * * * * * * * * * * Jane Irwin - 2004-07-23 11:08:45 Tom, Thanks for the update on Pease. Actually, I was there on its public Opening Night in 1996... they did a version of Carl Orff's Carmina Burana and a mess of my friends and I got together and went. Been back several times, most recently for an EMU Alumni concert. Still, the point is, EMU let a treasure like Pease rot and lie fallow for years, while building extra seats into a stadium for a football team that rarely wins. Priorities, eh, wot? Jane* * * * * * * * * * * * tom - 2004-07-23 12:08:36 I completely agree it was sinful for EMU to neglect Pease and all those other buildings while they frittered away piles of money on frivolous projects. I just wanted that Pease was eventually saved.* * * * * * * * * * * * tom - 2004-07-23 12:55:50 geeezzz I just wanted to point out that Pease was eventually saved. (one of these days I'm going to proofread my comments before I post them)* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-23 13:23:05 no problem. Thanks Tom for the regent clarification. I'd much rather they were all elected. I love Pease. It feels more human-sized to me than Hill--Hill is good for big blowout productions like the Christmas Hallelujah thing, though.* * * * * * * * * * * * tom - 2004-07-23 14:29:19 Laura, I think there is pros and cons to both elected and appointed boards. Hardly anyone actually votes for regents, because most people have no clue who they are and don't care. What frequently happens is that the regents who are elected ride the coattails of the elected governor or president, and you get some real hacks when that happens. The opposite also happens, good people lose because they belong to the party that lost the gubernatorial or presidential race. In theory, the governor would well-qualified to these posts, but that does not always happen, either (e.g., Incarnati)* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-23 14:54:22 I see. Thanks for helping me understand a little-known issue Tom. You're right, most people probably wouldn't care enough to find about which regent to vote for.* * * * * * * * * * * * Scott - 2004-07-23 15:00:32 The biggest concern is the long-term. Engler is still haunting us in many ways and of course this is just another. i imagine that Incarnoti would like this to all go away and they stick it to the students yet again down the road. I choose not to let that happen. I feel that we must call for action now, and not allow this to tarnish what I feel is an excellent Educational university. S* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-23 20:23:54 I biked past University House today and noticed one of those piles of artistically balanced rocks by the back door. Cute-a touch o' Zen in an otherwise egregiously bloated monstrosity.* * * * * * * * * * * * raymond - 2004-07-23 20:49:45 We were at Walgreen's today. As we left and looked across the barrier to the P-House we thought, "What a nice spot for a campout." Imagine the attention 50 more-or-less tents, several hundred tenters, and a steady parade of picketers would bring. Maybe the National Guard and the Homeland Security Administration would come. Or perhaps a sit-in in the house itself would do the job. "Direct action gets satisfaction."* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-23 22:55:05 There's a pretty steady stream of traffic on the road there, and Washtenaw is nearby. There's a silly iron gate in front of the house, with pretentious little side-walls, but the rest of the property is open.* * * * * * * * * * * * Scott - 2004-07-24 03:47:39 Raymond, time and place, I will bring the masses!* * * * * * * * * * * * Scott - 2004-07-24 03:51:06 Just checked, the petition has doubled in size to 79, in one day! Nothing better than a little civil disobedience! Tell everyone!* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-24 20:19:07 two cents: waiting till the school year gets rolling & folks settle in to the semester might attract more attention. The Echo/Courier could be tipped off beforehand so that they send a reporter. Wonder if there are any student groups up in arms @ the issue.* * * * * * * * * * * * Scott - 2004-07-26 18:12:43 259! Keep going tell strangers* * * * * * * * * * * * Laura - 2004-07-27 08:55:11 that's great!--it's starting to expand exponentially!* * * * * * * * * * * * scott - 2004-07-29 07:51:19 two days later, 539! Awesome* * * * * * * * * * * * add your comment: |