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Even
briefly speaking, the events of 2004 make for a lengthy list This time, I’ll be brief. In last month’s “FYI” I wrote at great length about politics, higher education and the creeping “privatization” of our state universities. You might recall, if you persevered to the end, that I suggested America will need the 21st century equivalent of the 1940s GI Bill or the 1860s land-grant colleges legislation if it is to address tomorrow’s most pressing national problems. Through comments and e-mails, I heard from enough of you — from across the political spectrum, from both campus and community — to confirm there is broad local support to put the “public” back in public higher education. I am gaining confidence, in this election year amid many competing interests, that together our voices will be heard. Last month wasn’t my first 2,000-word dissertation on state disinvestment, escalating tuition and shrinking access. Unless the turnaround is immediate, it won’t be the last. I make no apologies. But I will try this month to be short and sweet in touching on a wide variety of topics. In brief, our University has enjoyed a terrific start to 2004. Primary winners What an exciting time for our students! As Tom Perry wrote in his Press-Gazette column, UW-Green Bay achieved a “grand slam” in hosting each of the four leading Democratic presidential contenders. With John Kerry, John Edwards and Howard Dean each making campaign stops just before the Feb. 17 primary, and Wesley Clark some weeks earlier, our students were the big winners, going up-close-and-personal with prominent national figures. In nearly 40 years of being around college campuses, I’ve never seen such a whirlwind week. Kudos to our student leadership, the College Democrats club and the people at the University Union and Phoenix Sports Center who worked on short notice with each of the national campaigns to carry off these events without a hitch. And I’ll echo here what at least one student told a local reporter: President Bush, we’d welcome your visit, too. |
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