bad news for SLU and more????

[Just1More]

_ Saying other states have flagships for each university system is just crazy talk. Texas doesn't have a "flagship" university?

California's the only state where a legitimate claim can be asserted as to which school is the flagship...and comparing aTm with UT, is like trying to claim CalTech is somehow competing with UCLA or Cal for "flagship" status. I'm sure there are Michigan State or VPI alums making the same claims, while the rest of the world's scratching their heads wondering what happened to UVa and UM.

If the concept was intended to have multiple schools, they'd call it the flagships agenda. _

You need to do some research. Both University of Texas and Texas A&M are flagship universities. Whether you have a problem with Louisiana having anything other than a single flagship university is another question. Both of these universities, in the state of Texas, are regarded as "flagship universities"... no wiggle room. It does not mean you carry the flag of the "state"... the state takes care of that... it means you carry the flag of the "system" you represent.

[Just1More]

_ You completely lost me with that post. Could you try again for my simple mind? _

Which post? The smart kid who takes pride in being ugly analogy? Some UL people run around in the glory of a small athletic system claiming we are "more focused" on academics. First, it is a poor man's shoulder chip. We have no reason in Acadiana not to have grown both our athletic system and our academic system. Growth of an athletic system is paramount to strength for the entire university in times of budget considerations, naming rights, and other potential state-meddling decisions.

My point was that having a strong body can occasionally contribute to sustaining a strong mind. I would not be tired of those who have fought "my policy" if it weren't for the fact that they prevailed over the past few decades. It was and still is time to nourish the body in order to feed the mind. These narrow minded people keep arguing that "you don't focus on the body, you focus on the mind". You do both. That was my point... sorry I missed it on you.

[Boomer]

Mens sana in corpore sano???

[Just1More]

_ Mens sana in corpore sano??? _

You get it.

[LSUTiger4RaginCajuns]

_ Which post? You do both. That was my point... sorry I missed it on you. _

No no. It was not a reply to you it was directed at LSUConMan claiming Texas didn't have flagship universities. Since that time several have expressed my opinion that he was mistaken.

[jazzpop]

I realize that this is a forum devoted to athletics and therefore most posts will be from that perspective. But, can I possibly be the only person here who thinks that the primary purpose of the university should be to provide a quality education? With all of the crying needs that Louisiana's colleges have, LSU included, the notion of tuition increases to support athletics abosultely unreal. I enjoy watching a game as much as anyone, but
there's a huge difference between asking folks to pay more to provide their kids with a decent education and asking for money so that we can be entertained. Does anyone else here have kids in college?

[MissingMandy]

_ I realize that this is a forum devoted to athletics and therefore most posts will be from that perspective. But, can I possibly be the only person here who thinks that the primary purpose of the university should be to provide a quality education? With all of the crying needs that Louisiana's colleges have, LSU included, the notion of tuition increases to support athletics abosultely unreal. I enjoy watching a game as much as anyone, but
there's a huge difference between asking folks to pay more to provide their kids with a decent education and asking for money so that we can be entertained. Does anyone else here have kids in college? _

Yes we have kids in college...at UL no less. I really don't know of any college outside of Louisiana that DOES NOT charge a fee that goes towards athletics. I see nothing wrong with that. As a parent, of course education is the most important factor but athletics at the DIV 1 level is far more then just "entertainment". It is a powerful tool that if successful provides huge monetary gains for the university and the community as well.

[MissingMandy]

_ Saying other states have flagships for each university system is just crazy talk. Texas doesn't have a "flagship" university?

California's the only state where a legitimate claim can be asserted as to which school is the flagship...and comparing aTm with UT, is like trying to claim CalTech is somehow competing with UCLA or Cal for "flagship" status. I'm sure there are Michigan State or VPI alums making the same claims, while the rest of the world's scratching their heads wondering what happened to UVa and UM.

If the concept was intended to have multiple schools, they'd call it the flagships agenda. _

Your wrong on the Michigan State issue....for some strange reason each school Michigan and Michigan State seem to survive just fine existing together within the borders of the state of Michigan as do many other fine institutions of higher learning. The whole mess inside of Louisiana with the "flagship" issue is ridiculous.

[Just1More]

As a parent, of course education is the most important factor but athletics at the DIV 1 level is far more then just "entertainment". It is a powerful tool that if successful provides huge monetary gains for the university and the community as well. _

This concept is lost on so many people. Athletics, in public universities, is a major vehicle for connecting the students, alumni and the community to the university. The experiment is over. The results are in. The status of a university is a culmination of many things. By fortifying a large substantial base of student, alumni and community support (much of which is socially bound through athletics) you stockpile political authority. That political authority comes in mighty handy when you address matters affecting your academic health.

When I confront people at UL that do not get this concept, it makes me realize how they are not as academically gifted as they would have you believe. I don't mind using some of our small excuses to abuse an outside attacker... but when we are privately confering amongst ourselves... let's put the facts out on the table. We need to shore up our ties with "our university community"... and it needs to be done through our already publicized title sponsor... the UL Ragin Cajun athletic system.

As for the student fee situation, I have a proposal for Dr. Savoie... I know full well you are loyal to the mission of making Louisiana higher education as affordable as possible to all qualified students. I commend you for that. It is time to get creative. It is time to support a student fee for athletics to initiate student stockholders in our athletic system. In conjunction with this new fee, RCAF will form a committee of members (that includes students) that will review well written submissions from students requesting relief from this financial burden. All qualified students will be re-imbursed from RCAF. As part of the admission for student fee assistance, you will waive your right to an investigation of your student lifestyle. If it is found that you are not honest in your submission, you will pay your student athletic fee and the fee of one other truly qualified student.

[Loup_garou]

_ I realize that this is a forum devoted to athletics and therefore most posts will be from that perspective. But, can I possibly be the only person here who thinks that the primary purpose of the university should be to provide a quality education? With all of the crying needs that Louisiana's colleges have, LSU included, the notion of tuition increases to support athletics abosultely unreal. I enjoy watching a game as much as anyone, but
there's a huge difference between asking folks to pay more to provide their kids with a decent education and asking for money so that we can be entertained. Does anyone else here have kids in college? _

I could not agree with you more. I think Louisiana ought to concentrate on beefing up funding for higher education, rather than asking students and their families to pay an extra tuition charge for athletics. We have a daughter who will graduate from UT-Austin on May 22nd (Civil Engineering). She was a recipient of several scholarships. Other than her apartment etc., I have paid very little to send her to Texas.

[ManAboutTown]

_ This concept is lost on so many people. Athletics, in public universities, is a major vehicle for connecting the students, alumni and the community to the university. The experiment is over. The results are in. The status of a university is a culmination of many things. By fortifying a large substantial base of student, alumni and community support (much of which is socially bound through athletics) you stockpile political authority. That political authority comes in mighty handy when you address matters affecting your academic health.

When I confront people at UL that do not get this concept, it makes me realize how they are not as academically gifted as they would have you believe. I don't mind using some of our small excuses to abuse an outside attacker... but when we are privately confering amongst ourselves... let's put the facts out on the table. We need to shore up our ties with "our university community"... and it needs to be done through our already publicized title sponsor... the UL Ragin Cajun athletic system.

As for the student fee situation, I have a proposal for Dr. Savoie... I know full well you are loyal to the mission of making Louisiana higher education as affordable as possible to all qualified students. I commend you for that. It is time to get creative. It is time to support a student fee for athletics to initiate student stockholders in our athletic system. In conjunction with this new fee, RCAF will form a committee of members (that includes students) that will review well written submissions from students requesting relief from this financial burden. All qualified students will be re-imbursed from RCAF. As part of the admission for student fee assistance, you will waive your right to an investigation of your student lifestyle. If it is found that you are not honest in your submission, you will pay your student athletic fee and the fee of one other truly qualified student. _

This is the perfect depiction of how Athletics and Education go hand-in-hand. Very well articulated. Thank you.

[Cajun90]

I could not agree with you more. I think Louisiana ought to concentrate on beefing up funding for higher education, rather than asking students and their families to pay an extra tuition charge for athletics. We have a daughter who will graduate from UT-Austin on May 22nd (Civil Engineering). She was a recipient of several scholarships. Other than her apartment etc., I have paid very little to send her to Texas.

I understand the argument.

Couple of interesting facts.

UT averages spending $210,000 PER athlete each year. That was from 2007.

UT charges $70.00 for a student athletic pass.

UT athletics is fully self-funded but some estimate they are one of only approximately ten such programs in the country.

http://www.statesman.com/sports/cont...portsmain.html

For those interested the Knight Commission is a good place to start.

http://www.knightcommission.org/

I think there eventually has to be some middle ground between the massive spending of some and the miniscule budgets of others.