Sad Times at EMU

The University house was built for $6 million. The budget was $3 million and we were promised that no general or student funds would be used. They lied. Though the President did resign (with a full compensation package) we still have appointed regents, who "good old boy'd" the building, much to the chagrin of the university community.


Eastern Michigan University has had more than its share of problems. From the over priced and illegal use of funds for the President's house, resigning administrators and regents, unrepresented administrative appointments, lack of accountability, cuts, cuts, cuts to our budget, and now a cover up about a student's death on campus. Last December Laura Dickinson was brutally raped and killed in her dorm room, and the administrators chose to cover up rather than reveal the ugly truth.

School officials will not say why they kept silent. But some parents and people in the community believe administrators endangered students in an effort to protect the university's image.

And exactly what image is that?


This is unfortunately, run of the mill at EMU. It isn't because of the students or the faculty, but very poor choices of administrators and regents. Unfortunately again, we have no choice in the matter - the regents are political appointees, and the administrators are chosen by them. Something has been rotten in Ypsi for wayyyyyy too long.

If you can't tell by now, it is time for a change on many levels, and certainly the way our school has been run. The students at the very least (who pay about $7,000 annually for old buildings, poor technology, and overworked faculty) deserve much more than they are getting.

What is ticking me off about this today? The sad story of the murder has gone from local, to Grand Rapids, to the Chronicle of Higher Education to the LA Times- the front page of the LA Times today. Great. Just what we need.

Jennifer, Jennifer, Jennifer. I have written you before, and now I ask again. Can we choose our own Regents? Can we have a say in our own destiny? Can we make a University where we are proud? Can we have accountability? Too many of my colleagues are so unhappy with what has happened at our school. But I for one, will sign my name to a demand for accountability and justice at EMU.

If we spent our money in a sustainable and, dare I say, honest fashion, instead of the skullduggery we have experienced, we could be a model of hope, instead of a model of desperation. I suppose our students are learning from these errors, but why not go toward the new paradigm, and support education, and a sustainable quality of life? Why not teach our students about the way we should be going, about the hope and joy of attaining your ideals, instead of teaching them the about a lack of care, broken promises, and corruption?

Let's end the wretched unsustainable model we have been tied to, one dedicated to ignoring students, faculty, and spending money without accountability - and move on to a sustainable healthy, happy, and honest life.