ARCHIVE: ULM should live up to motto

Originally published in The Pow Wow, February 23, 2002

"Because of the success of our alumni, the University of Louisiana at Monroe is recognized as one of the leading institutions of higher education. To enhance that status we need every alumn to become a part of the ULM Alumni Association. Your participation is very important." -ULM Alumni Association invoice

In an attempt to avoid paying the practically insane out-of-state fees the university was charging me at the time, I graduated from ULM with an associate's degree in December 2000.

As an alumnus, my out-of-state fees were waived, I was presented a nice diploma to hang on my wall and I received a complimentary one-year membership in the ULM Alumni Association. All in all, it was one of the best bargains I've ever received from this university.

Over the course of the year, the association did a good job of keeping in touch. The time I spent on the mailing list wasn't too painful as most of their mailings contained no more propaganda than any other university's alumni group.

With that said, I was surprised to see the association make the claim that ULM is recognized as "one of the leading institutions of higher education." I think that ULM is a swell place and I am (believe it or not) glad that I came here for my education. However, I think it's a stretch to imply that folks are looking to our campus as an example of how to do things right. Let's be honest for once. If our university was leading the pack, we wouldn't be facing our lowest enrollment in more than two decades.

I guess the magic word in that last paragraph is honesty. It's something I value personally and professionally. Sure, my staff and I have made a mistake or two, but I like to think we've always been quick to set the record straight. We have tried to live up to our university's motto. We want to "seek the truth" and proclaim it for all to see. The only thing we can't manage is to get our university to do the same.

The alumni association won't be getting my $25 membership fee this time around. They goofed when they took a shady approach when making their pitch. They didn't need to fudge the truth to win my support because I already support my school. However, brutally honest truth would have gotten me to open my checkbook.

In a perfect world, I would like a letter admitting that the university wasn't in the best of shape when I arrived and that things didn't get much better in the four years I've spent here. I would like a letter apologizing that I didn't get to see nearly 12,000 students enrolled or the university's financial house in order.

I wouldn't mind someone apologizing for the weekend I had to spend with water leaking into my dorm room because a flood "isn't an emergency."

The money would certainly flow if someone would step up and take the blame for rodents interrupting class in Stubbs Hall, for missing ceiling tiles in the SUB Annex, for the lack of modern climate control systems and for administrators thinking that getting rid of the yearbook was a good idea.

The association's letter would wrap up with an expression of thanks for being among the dwindling masses as a student and by asking for financial support as an alumnus.

The old regime is on the way out. New blood is on its way in. It seems to me that there is no better time than the present to seek and present the whole truth -- and not just a sugar-coated version of it.

Michael Cossey is a Monticello, Ark. Radio, Television & Film senior and chief of staff of The Pow Wow.