So I'm a tad disappointed with my print friends at the Gazette and Springfield Republican for not mentioning in their front page articles covering UMass President Robert Caret's on campus press conference yesterday that he plans to get tough with rowdy student behavior we have already seen too much off this month.
Ch 22 TV used the term "strongly discipline offenders" but since they did not put quotation marks around it I have to assume that is the impression Caret gave the reporter,Jackie Bruno, in response to her question. Maybe since it was Ms. Bruno asking the question the print folks--who tend to dislike TV journalism--chose to ignore it.
The Mass Daily Collegian also mentioned it in passing but opted to highlight Caret's other Pollyanna idea of addressing the problem, what I consider the "oatmeal cookie' approach: Student ambassadors living in the impacted neighborhoods to facilitate two way conversations.
But all bricks-and-mortar reporters highlighted Caret's wish to move from top 50 public university nationwide to top 25 in "research". If that ambitious goal is to be met, he needs to recognize the inverse relationship between top research institution and top party school: One excludes the other!
Not so. Partying is being done by the undergrads. Grad students in polymer science, robotics, etc. are still making breakthroughs.
ReplyDeleteGotta wonder if those industrious Grad students of which you speak were once party hardy undergrads (at some other institution of course)?
ReplyDeleteProbably not.
A lot of the grad students did their undergrad years at other institutions. Also, a lot of grad students are foreign (as in non-American).
ReplyDeleteI am upset with all of the talk about spending so much money on sports. The students and their parents are paying so much money to send their kids to college that I am starting to wonder if they will be able to obtain a good job when they graduate. So many subjects areas have been cut. All students should be adding unusual courses to show an employer that they can provide something special such a studying a foreign language, not just what is spoken around here. There are many other areas of study that passed for many reasons that I find sad since this is a time for students to explore, as well as question how a course would help me find a great career.
ReplyDeleteYeah, he did seem to think the very expensive football upgrade was more important than the wild party issue.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly he defended the football expenditures for giving the school a quality image...as in a pretty face attracts more suitors.
But when the Party Boys are simultaneously giving that pretty face a black eye...
But all bricks-and-mortar reporters highlighted Caret's wish to move from top 50 public university nationwide to top 25 in "research".
ReplyDeleteWhy did you put quotes around the word research? Are you suggesting that it's not?
No.
ReplyDeleteJust got sick of the term "public research universities."
Guess I should have put quotes around "public" as well--just so you would not have been so suspicious. Geeze...
If the President of UMass System wants the Amherst Campus to be in the top 25, how come the Amherst Campus did not have an entry in this year's Solar Decathlon happening now in the Washington Mall? I guess football is more important.
ReplyDeleteI heard TV news (sorry, Larry) stress tonight that no tax money will be used for the stadium renovation. I guess that means it's "only" student fees.
ReplyDeleteWay back when the Campus Center was being constructed, some of us suggested a bake sale rather than raising fees to help fund the (leaky) building.