Editor:
As you might have guessed, this is a response to Joe Holmgren's letter of Nov. 1. The reason I wasn't at Friday's meeting was because I have a job; ever heard of a job, Joe? No one is paying my way through school for me, and I enjoy the idea of having a roof over my head and some occasional food to eat. So don't try to be so patronizing. You're not qualified.
I have examined the proposed core curriculum. I have even gone out of my own way to meet and speak with Manuel Pacheco and Paul Sypherd. I know what the intimate details of their plans are, and that is why I oppose them to the extent that I do. The idea is to increase the amount of students in the system. Not necessarily a bad idea, except that I thought the idea was to graduate people with a degree which means you are qualified to produce in the field that you have been graduated in. The proposed curriculum simply does not spend enough time or interest in the students to give them any tools to accomplish their goals.
As far as the faculty is concerned, the new campus will end up being staffed by high school equivalent instructors who are satisfied with simply drawing a paycheck. The university is supposed to be a place where one can aspire to a much higher level of competence and accomplishment, something that cannot be done with that level of instruction.
To be fair, I can say I am qualified to have this opinion. I have well over 10 years of business leadership experience. My companies have never shown a loss, our quality has been impeccable, and our many products have been cost-efficient (cheap, Joe, in case you didn't catch that). And no, they weren't T-shirts. I also have educational experience at the primary, intermediate, secondary and collegiate levels, and that does not include my time as a student. I've travelled internationally, so I guess I could say "been there, done that" fairly readily.
So, dear Joe, I know what I'm talking about. I know that these changes will take place after I've already graduated. That does not make this administration's actions any more appropriate. Frankly, I'm scared shitless for all of the students who will feel their effects.
By the way, thanks for the Orwell comparison, but to tell you the truth, I think Orwell is as boring as a glass of air.
Thomas E. Tolley
Classics Senior
Angry As Hell