Dear Dr. J (a basketball reference, if you didn't notice),

Do you want the Lebos to feel like they are part of this University? Some
used to say they take pride in UTC because it working here is like
belonging to a family. All of the bitching and moaning about a damned car
that someone outside the University pays for is a waste of time, energy and
money. Have you any idea how many people in the United States make more
money in salary and incentives than the President?

Back to the game:

Considering the fact that humans don't learn from the past and are destined
to repeat it, should we be questioning the need for a history department
next?

With calculators replacing basic math skills, why do we bother teaching
calculus? Will pocket protectors become obsolete, if no one knows how to
use a slide rule?

Why should the average student care what the inside of a frog looks like...
unless he plans to eat it?

Seems to me we are better served in arguing to keep programs in remedial
classes, as many of our students don't speak or write the King's English.
"Are you doing good?" "Me and my friend's going to the bar for a beer
later. You want to come with he and I?"

How many engineering and computer science majors did we graduate last year?
You might want to check out the THEC recommendation about that.

I hope everyone will pardon the language I have spewed for the sake of
illustrating how ridiculous this conversation is becoming. I promise to
restrain myself on the subject in the future, if Dr. Dumas promises to
stick to the merits of academic and auxiliary programs and to stay out of
other people's salaries and the bike lane.

K

 At 03:20 PM 4/26/02 -0400, Dr. Joe Dumas wrote:
>Claire McCullough wrote:
>
>> I have taught at a university that had no football.  Maybe it's a Southern
>> thing, but somehow, the homecoming hockey game left me feeling
>> uninspired....
>
>
>Our money- and game-losing football team is hardly inspirational itself,
>IMHO.
>
>Anyway, since we have spent all this money (Lexans?) for a world-class
>basketball coach (plus wife, cars, etc.) why don't we have homecoming at
>a basketball game.  Surely they will be on their way to the Final Four
>every year, so we will likely be on the winning side of the annual
>homecoming blowout, rather than the side that the perennially
>underachieving football team is likely to be on.
>
>And if we have to have a football game for homecoming, it would probably
>be a lot cheaper to hire buses and send all the interested students to
>UTK's homecoming game instead.  We probably already have more students
>(and alumni) who go to theirs than ours.
>
>If UTK's homecoming is sold out, we can send them to Vanderbilt's ...
>I'm sure they have plenty of room in the stands.  Vandy will probably
>lose their homecoming, but our students will be used to that.
>
>Of course, we can always try to upgrade UTC's football team by spending
>a few more Lexans ... just remember that they won't be provided by THEC
>any more.  I hope all the folks who want to keep football will be the
>first ones to reach for their checkbooks and send in a Lexan or two.
>
>
>> I think this all comes down to the larger debate as to whether we want
to be
>> what I would call a "full service" university, where students have many
>> opportunities outside class for fellowship, camaraderie, discussion,
>> expansion of worldview...(and yes, I believe football, as well as music,
>> theater, student organizations, etc. all have a part in that), or a
commuter
>> campus where students come only for classes.  If we choose to go the
>> commuter route (as many schools do), our students may be very well trained
>> in the areas of their courses, but I would not feel that they had gotten
the
>> true education I believe they deserve.
>
>
>I think the commuter school status is pretty much the actual existing
>state of affairs, whether we like it or not.  Most of the students don't
>avail themselves of the music, theater, student organizations, and least
>of all the football games, available now.  Why not try something
>different (and less expensive) ... we're trying to get them to park at
>Engel Stadium anyway, why not give them something to watch on the way to
>and from their cars.  If they're not interested in watching baseball as
>a spectator sport, they can try dodging foul balls in the parking lot as
>a participant sport :)
>
>Joe
>
Kim Edward Renz
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Fine Arts Center, Department 1351
615 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403
423-755-4371    Office
423-755-5249    Facsimile
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