Re: Start writing emails...
SEND THIS TO THE BOARD OF REGENTS! Very well said.
Originally posted by Panther/Statesman
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I don't suppose the BoR has any real axe to grind against UNI, and despite the current budget shortfalls I can't see the relatively miniscule amount of money being spent on athletics here being such a critical issue. Causing sports programs to be dropped would be devastating to the university in the form of lost prestige and enrollment, which likely would cause a reduction in academic offerings.
UNI doesn't simply educate the next generation of bankers, financial anylists, and teachers in academic disciplines. It educates coaches, who generally stay in the state and give back by developing youngsters athletic potential and instilling the values of hard work and goal-acheivement. Along the way, students are taught to study hard and organize their lives to maximise their potential. Where is this great teaching asset going to come from if the next best alternative is to attend college in out of state?
How many young people from the state would have to go elsewhere if their educational opportunites couldn't be obtained by earning an athletic scholarship? UNI primarily serves Iowans, and Iowans yet to come would be the primary receipient of a loss of quality mentors who have traditionally come from our university.
The UNI we know today was built with the effort, sweat and perseverence of thousands of dedicated professionals and visionaries over more than a century. You can look back through the years and find great leaders who made a great impact on our state, and the nation. And many of them were rooted in athletics.
It is certainly a laudable goal to move us toward finacial independence as far as the athletic department goes. But this must be tempered by the knowlege that the entire state gets a tremendous return on its investment at UNI, that we are highly efficient and our leaders are always looking for innovative ideas toward that end.
UNI is hitting its stride in terms of national recognition because of its athletics, which in turn draws attention to our academics. This can be the beginning of a golden age for our university, if the same vision and care that built our university is accessed now. I believe the BoR will be fair and wise, and will help us on our journey toward a bright future. We are an asset that many states would covet, and it is not in the character of Iowan's to be narrow minded and short sighted on such an important issue.
And yes, it is time for us to give generously to our alma mater. But you know that's what we do out here on the prairie. The same spirit that our forebearers had which built our great universities in the first place will come to our aid now.
UNI doesn't simply educate the next generation of bankers, financial anylists, and teachers in academic disciplines. It educates coaches, who generally stay in the state and give back by developing youngsters athletic potential and instilling the values of hard work and goal-acheivement. Along the way, students are taught to study hard and organize their lives to maximise their potential. Where is this great teaching asset going to come from if the next best alternative is to attend college in out of state?
How many young people from the state would have to go elsewhere if their educational opportunites couldn't be obtained by earning an athletic scholarship? UNI primarily serves Iowans, and Iowans yet to come would be the primary receipient of a loss of quality mentors who have traditionally come from our university.
The UNI we know today was built with the effort, sweat and perseverence of thousands of dedicated professionals and visionaries over more than a century. You can look back through the years and find great leaders who made a great impact on our state, and the nation. And many of them were rooted in athletics.
It is certainly a laudable goal to move us toward finacial independence as far as the athletic department goes. But this must be tempered by the knowlege that the entire state gets a tremendous return on its investment at UNI, that we are highly efficient and our leaders are always looking for innovative ideas toward that end.
UNI is hitting its stride in terms of national recognition because of its athletics, which in turn draws attention to our academics. This can be the beginning of a golden age for our university, if the same vision and care that built our university is accessed now. I believe the BoR will be fair and wise, and will help us on our journey toward a bright future. We are an asset that many states would covet, and it is not in the character of Iowan's to be narrow minded and short sighted on such an important issue.
And yes, it is time for us to give generously to our alma mater. But you know that's what we do out here on the prairie. The same spirit that our forebearers had which built our great universities in the first place will come to our aid now.
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