The University is in dangerous waters. Rarely does an institution manage to isolate all of its potential supporters, but for some reason, this is the policy ULM has decided to adopt.
Four groups of people make up a campus family: students, faculty, alumni and the community. ULM has managed to drive away them all.
Many alumni disassociated themselves from the University because, as many of them will tell you, their degree says “Northeast Louisiana University,” not the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Their college photos show them in NLU Indian t-shirts, not ULM Warhawks clothing.
Maybe its time for them to move on and accept change, but it isn’t that simple. Memories cannot change. Their memories are of a different university, and it will be hard to overcome the strong feelings of the college day nostalgia.
The most vocal in the community are enraged by the natatorium’s potential closure. Many see former soccer coach Stacy Lamb’s departure as ULM trying its hardest to drive the final wedge between Monroe and its university. There are few flags or window displays in the city showing ULM pride. If the university keeps angering the community, it’s unlikely that will change anytime soon.
Faculty live in constant fear. Fear of budget and program cuts. Fear of losing tenure as others in the system have. Fear of the enormous amount of control looming in the sixth floor of the library, centered around people they were skeptical of to begin with.
And of course there are the students, who are caught in the middle of the raging identity crisis and caught in the middle of a fierce debate over the natatorium. But, surely our administrators will protect us.
Or maybe they’ll just use us like they used top skiers Zack Wordon and Claudio Kostenberger to garner them a national title before effortlessly kicking them to the curb.
The pair carried the water ski team to another national title, the 23rd of the most celebrated program of any kind at the University. How are they rewarded? By being “suspended” and stripped of their scholarships because they missed curfew.
Had there been a previous violation? Yes, a minor one. Were they out past the midnight curfew? Yes, they were out, celebrating with parents after winning the national title and allegedly after getting the permission of the assistant coach.
Luckily for the University, the sanctions don’t take place until the spring, when camera flashes and celebration shows come to an end. After all that is over, then they’ll take away the skiers’ scholarships.
According to the Hawkeye poll, students overwhelmingly support the skiers. Their punishment was excessive and everyone knows it. But rather than do the right thing and support their students, the University did what it does best: alienate people who desperately want to support it.
It’s time the University takes a long look in the mirror and decides who it wants to be. The popular catch-phrase this year has been “Discover ULM.” That slogan is laughable. How can anyone discover ULM when ULM doesn’t even know who it is?
The reelection of Gov. Bobby Jindal, a clear enemy of higher education, should have all universities worried. Without the threat of losing reelection over him, he could attack learning institutions with renewed vigor. It’s a dangerous time for ULM to be floundering the way it is.
An aggressive campaign needs to be launched to show alumni they can love ULM like they loved NLU. Don’t pick fights with community members. Stop playing politics and stand up to Baton Rouge; assure faculty their university has their backs.
Most importantly, do the right thing for your students. Show us you have our backs. A perfect opportunity to do so is by giving back Zack and Claudio’s scholarships.
It’s time ULM starts doing the right thing.
Original Team Mamber • Nov 13, 2011 at 6:39 pm
A Student – my name was listed at the end of the post – maybe you should pay more attention – and I still don’t see your name?
Mike Adams 77-81
A Student • Nov 12, 2011 at 9:04 pm
Dear Original Team Member,
You have a lot of nerve to ask me about my name when you’re afraid to publish yours. And yes I am a student- one that can afford my tuition without scholarships!
🙂
David Landrum • Nov 12, 2011 at 8:49 am
Dear Original team Member,
Thank you for pointing out a poster may not be who they say they are. But I think you forgot a couple of them in this thread of responses. Care to call them out with me?
MLP • Nov 12, 2011 at 12:59 am
Come now “A Student.” Nobody is an idiot here. I think everyone has stated their arguments and gotten their points across crystal clear. We could have done without the name calling, but that’s part of it. Coming from someone who does not care about any of this because it does not affect me directly; and because we don’t have the full story, I for one would like to thank everyone on this page for providing me entertainment while I write a paper on this late Friday night, or should I say Saturday morning. Ah yes, the joys of being a studious nerd. Back to work for me! 🙂
A Student • Nov 11, 2011 at 12:22 am
Point is they deserve the punishment they got. They KNOWINGLY broke the rules. That “interview” they gave is a JOKE! They were drunk- blubbering- and angry. For the paper to even publish it is FOOLISHNESS. I could careless about them getting in trouble and crying about it. That’s not news. It’s GOSSIP that’s what was printed GOSSIP! I didn’t realize that the Hawkeye practiced new age forms of yellow journalism. And to have the nerve to post such allegations against ULM Staff… So the next time I feel like bad mouthing a teacher all I need to do is Call the Hawkeye right? Frankly I’m disgusted.
David do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
Original team Member • Nov 11, 2011 at 2:33 pm
Dear Student – afraid to print your name?? Or are you really a student?
Outsider • Nov 9, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Great article! I hope that the university will take this article as an eye opening experience instead of in a negative way. Maybe they can finally see that their politics are running their students, faculty and alumni away and do something to change for the better. After all… a university is nothing without its followers.
David Landrum • Nov 9, 2011 at 12:10 pm
Dear unknown person,
Since you don’t give your name and the paper allows you to post, they own it. If you want to shoot off your mouth then own your words. I have not given a play by play of anything the skiers did. I happen to have multiple sources of information of what has occured. Again, you are the guilty party of assumption. It’s becoming clearer that you are the guilty party on several accounts and have a horse in this race somewhere. Go ahead and identify yourself so we can then see that truth. I don’t like cowards but can easily identify one when they make a mistake and want to blame everyone or anyone else.
Truth • Nov 9, 2011 at 10:13 am
David,
I do not work for the paper in the least bit. I am not associated with the Hawkeye nor the Ski Team. And I am confident that I will not be suspend from any job that I have because I do not work for ULM.
I did not assume anything in my comment. You were the one who commented on this article and called out FACTS for everyone to see. You attacked a ULM STUDENT NEWSPAPER for calling out student issues. You then gave a play a play of why the students were suspended from the team.
The FACT is that if Coach Landrum is held to privacy laws to not tell the Hawkeye nor anyone else outside of the University adminstration who are dealing with this issue, so why do you know all the FACTS? WHY DO YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED?
YOU SHOULD NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED! THAT IS THE FACT!
REMEMBER, THE LAW APPLIES TO EVERYONE, AND IF SHE COULD NOT TELL THE HAWKEYE, THAN SHE COULD NOT TELL.
You got angry and shoot off at the mouth, but you only hurt Coach Landrum in the long run. You gave the Skiers a case against her, and by law, she is guiltly and you are the reason everyone knows.
Maybe before you comment back, you should watch your words, not assume I work for the paper, and realize that you messed up along with Coach Landrum.
Thank you!!
Truth • Nov 8, 2011 at 11:21 pm
Here is the truth about your comment to this article. If Coach Landrum is held to privacy laws regarding the students actions and their suspension from the Ski Team, why do you know so much about it? How do you know they were drinking underage? I am pretty sure that you do not work for ULM. So therefore, it seems that Coach Landrum broke the privacy laws and told you. This means that if she can tell you the details she should have no problem responding to the Hawkeye. And when you say “OUR” reputation, why are you included? So maybe you should figure out the TRUTH before you comment and say things that you should not know because of the privacy laws you mention!!
By the way, if you are going to comment with the TRUTH AND FACTS make sure that you do not say one thing and then change your mind. You first say the Ski Team receives student fees, but then you say this sentence, “Both skiers and parent’s of skiers appreciate the way this team is managed. No skier or no student at ULM should expect that this team is, was, or ever will be a student/taxpayer funded party.” – So what is the Truth, they do receive student money so they are funded by students and since students and their parents pay taxes – I guess they are funded by taxpayers as well.
Overall, you need to go on with your LIES, and let the news do its job!! Because you just created more problems for your wife or whoever she is to you due to the fact that she broke the privacy laws and told you all about these skiers.
Maybe she will be suspended from her job!! Who knows?
David Landrum • Nov 9, 2011 at 9:08 am
Your statements that begin with if and end with then indicate you don’t know what the truth is. You make an assumption(s) and then follow on as if they are facts. You can’t handle being taken to task for not doing your job. I’m not aware of one instance where the coach has broken any rules. Again, you assume. I would have ASSUMED before you were given this job you would have learned the difference between fact and false premise. Maybe you will be suspended from your job! Who knows??
David Landrum • Nov 8, 2011 at 8:46 pm
I find it interesting the the University motto is “Seek the Truth” yet this publication and it’s opinions do such a poor job in this area. Your paper is quick to judge without benefit of all the facts. Your complete disregard of the fact the administrators are bound by privacy laws and can not comment is appalling but yet you are quick to publish as fact the accounts of the two skiers that have been suspended. You adopt their opinion as your own, such as their accounts of the infractions and their definition of suspension versus dismissal. I find it disgusting that the school paper would take the opportunity to give so much time and space to two individuals that have proven themselves to be trouble makers in the weeks following another National Championship win for the TEAM. The team nor the coach “rode” or “used” these two skiers. The facts are that the team would have won without their efforts in jumping. The fact is the team won BEFORE their last escapades and they chose to break the rules. The fact is the rules have been in place since before Coach Landrum took over the team and these rules have been in place before these two individuals joined the team. The fact is the real issue is that these two feel that since they won or set a record, the rules don’t apply to them. The fact is the “lesser” skiers on this team all abide willingly by the rules. The fact is this team in no different than any other ski team in the country except for the fact that they are one of less than four teams nationally that give “scholarship” money to water skiers. This money is provided through both student fees and state budget monies. The coach is obligated to the University, the student body, and the team to ensure that all the team rules are enforced. Is this publication willing to advocate that when the team wins or an individual sets a record that at that time any rule that the skier dislikes can be ignored? Is this publication willing to advocate underage drinking by team members? Is this publication willing to advocate “partying” while traveling on University time and money and liability? Is this publication aware of the relationship of these two skiers and their “employer” or company sponsor, that happens to be several former ULL skiers that have taken an active role in harming the ULM ski team? I find your assertion that the University is guilty of alienation ludicrous and in fact this publication is guilty of the same, guilty of being part of a smear campaign and guilty of being lazy in your job. The Water Ski Team is one of the best, if not the best thing going on this campus. And the reason they have won 23 out of 33 championship tournaments is because we attract and KEEP the best skiers in the world with our reputation. Our reputation is well known and I don’t just mean our record. Both skiers and parent’s of skiers appreciate the way this team is managed. No skier or no student at ULM should expect that this team is, was, or ever will be a student/taxpayer funded party.