One friendly correction. It is not "UT-Memphis." I have to correct this with the local newspaper often also. It is "The University of Memphis." U of M is not part of the UT system and never has been. It is a Board of Regents institution founded in 1912. Go Tigers!

Russell
U of M Class of '84; J.D. '87.



-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Hiestand <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] 
Date: Sat, 8 May 2004 11:17:10 -0400
Subject: [UTCSTAFF] Gov. Brede$en

   On May 1 my wife and I attended the UT-Memphis graduation where our daughter received her Master's.  The commencement speaker was Gov. Phil Bredesen.  The brief bio in the program said "Bredesen has increased funding for public education..."

   When Memphis President Dr. Shirley Raines introduced the governor she modified this to say he had increased funding for K-12 education.  In his subsequent remraks the governor said he planned to be remembered for increasing funding for higher education, too.

    He gave a better than average speech, too.  (13 minutes)

    1500 graduates "walked."  As the parade droned on it bacame harder and harer to hear as people began talking after their graduate shook the president's hand.  Our daughter was among the last to to this.  We did not appreciate the noise.

   There is *no* excuse for noise, disruption, and distraction in what should be a dignified ceremony.

   I am first generation college.


   Jim Hiestand, ENGR


Russell Fowler, J.D.
Adjunct
Department of Political Science
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
417 Fletcher Hall
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403-2598
and
Managing Attorney
Legal Aid of East Tennessee. Inc
The Doctors Building
744 McCallie Avenue, Suite 410
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403
(423) 756-4013 Ext. 105