The discussion about whether we should be "Chattanooga University" and whether we should push for enforcement of the 1969 Merger Agreement seems to be mixing apples and oranges.  I think we need to think long and hard before we do something that may have long-term consequences.

First, I like the idea of our campus establishing its own identity (once we figure it out!) and having our own name.  Chattanooga University, for all the reasons Richard Rice listed, is a good name, and one that I could support.  It would not mean that would have to leave the system.  We could still reap the benefits of working within the UT system while enjoying some autonomy and marketing ourselves with our unique and special identity.  

That unique and special identity leads to my second point.  Why in the world would we EVER want to argue that we are EQUAL to UTK?  We are not.  We are our own unique University, and I, for one, am glad that we are.  In some ways, I think we are actually better than UTK, but that is another argument for another day.  I would submit that if we demand equal pay throughout the UT system, then we should expect equal research demands and equal EDO demands.  Is that really what we want here at Chattanooga University when we argue that we are emphasizing teaching in addition to research?  

I think enforcement of the Merger Agreement ties us much too closely into the UT system.  I think we should be fighting for more AUTONOMY from the system, not begging the system for enforcement of this old agreement.

Just my two cents . . . .

Joanie


Dr. Joanie Sompayrac
UC Foundation
Associate Professor of Accounting
Assistant Director, University Honors 
UT-Chattanooga

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." -- Winston Churchill

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