Comments for Walter Wendler on Higher Education http://walterwendler.wordpress.com A University and its Place in the World Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:48:00 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Our University: Retention and Graduation by Ryan http://walterwendler.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/our-university-retention-and-graduation/#comment-92 Ryan Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:48:00 +0000 http://walterwendler.wordpress.com/?p=264#comment-92 And yet we keep financing our own demise. The Opportunist and his misguided MAP. Greed is the "leader's" greatest motivation, followed by an idea and hope of leaving an unforgettable legacy; pride comes in second. Then we have fear rounding out the perpetual concession worker's politico machine. Fear is the guide that binds and keeps in tact the greed and the pride. Shaped by Castro, Forged with a pen. But for good measure, we'll have a fundraiser for the kiddies that were lucky enough to make it out of the womb. Boy George had a song, karma chameleon it was. We have a karma chameleon of our own have we not? Oh how I hate the smell of do gooders in the morning. And yet we keep financing our own demise. The Opportunist and his misguided MAP. Greed is the “leader’s” greatest motivation, followed by an idea and hope of leaving an unforgettable legacy; pride comes in second. Then we have fear rounding out the perpetual concession worker’s politico machine. Fear is the guide that binds and keeps in tact the greed and the pride. Shaped by Castro, Forged with a pen. But for good measure, we’ll have a fundraiser for the kiddies that were lucky enough to make it out of the womb. Boy George had a song, karma chameleon it was. We have a karma chameleon of our own have we not? Oh how I hate the smell of do gooders in the morning.

]]> Comment on Our University – Underdogs by Ryan http://walterwendler.wordpress.com/2009/10/09/our-university-%e2%80%93-underdogs/#comment-89 Ryan Tue, 13 Oct 2009 19:39:26 +0000 http://walterwendler.wordpress.com/?p=251#comment-89 I can hear the song in the background, "why would ya go, anywhere else..." LOL! In the words of Tony Soprano, "It is what it is." Right? It was good enough for me. It's what you want and what you are willing to pay. Unfortunately, nowadays people think what they want shouldn't be entirely their responsibility to pay for. The MAP Grant mind you, not opposed to it, but let's reward even the MAP Grant, not ration it out just because of an overriding, perhaps overbearing circumstance of need. One may say, well that is what merit based scholarships are for. I would reply, "yeah, I suppose, all 29 of them." The political play for MAP right now gets me angry. It's a very expensive method of getting people everywhere angry. I don't want to finance education for the sake of good will, I want that tax funded grant to have a little merit attached to it. I can hear the song in the background, “why would ya go, anywhere else…” LOL! In the words of Tony Soprano, “It is what it is.” Right? It was good enough for me. It’s what you want and what you are willing to pay. Unfortunately, nowadays people think what they want shouldn’t be entirely their responsibility to pay for. The MAP Grant mind you, not opposed to it, but let’s reward even the MAP Grant, not ration it out just because of an overriding, perhaps overbearing circumstance of need. One may say, well that is what merit based scholarships are for. I would reply, “yeah, I suppose, all 29 of them.” The political play for MAP right now gets me angry. It’s a very expensive method of getting people everywhere angry. I don’t want to finance education for the sake of good will, I want that tax funded grant to have a little merit attached to it.

]]> Comment on Our University – Allegiance by Ryan http://walterwendler.wordpress.com/2009/08/28/our-university-%e2%80%93-allegiance/#comment-88 Ryan Fri, 25 Sep 2009 20:01:27 +0000 http://walterwendler.wordpress.com/?p=227#comment-88 These articles are too good and too important not to be circulated via a newspaper. I must admit I don't subscribe to a paper, but rather try to read what I want online. This cherry picking approach doesn't qualify me as a good audience, (though my reasons for not getting a paper include the fact that they've disallowed writings such as this) but I would wager the subscribers to our local paper for instance are more engaged and influential than the average Joe. These are the same people who are motivated to follow-up, either in protest or defense, they also are more affluent than me. Dr. Wendler, I know you don't want to come across as a rebel rouser or a scorned "has been" around here, but people like myself can't get enough of what you are doing. Thank you and keep doing it, you are speaking for people like me who have the same view of the university to administration as we do our country to government, we love the one and fear the other. I love three topics, two of which are Baseball and politics. This university has stirred more intellectual, political rage in me than I can shake a stick at. So much so that sometimes our suffering of a few broken eggs as a university is something I don't necessarily loathe. I don't root for failure long term speaking, but we've been shooting a flawed jump shot for quite some time now, to play on a sports analogy. I am brainstorming different mediums. You've given this thought, what are your alternatives putting your modest inhibitions aside? These articles are too good and too important not to be circulated via a newspaper. I must admit I don’t subscribe to a paper, but rather try to read what I want online. This cherry picking approach doesn’t qualify me as a good audience, (though my reasons for not getting a paper include the fact that they’ve disallowed writings such as this) but I would wager the subscribers to our local paper for instance are more engaged and influential than the average Joe. These are the same people who are motivated to follow-up, either in protest or defense, they also are more affluent than me.
Dr. Wendler, I know you don’t want to come across as a rebel rouser or a scorned “has been” around here, but people like myself can’t get enough of what you are doing. Thank you and keep doing it, you are speaking for people like me who have the same view of the university to administration as we do our country to government, we love the one and fear the other.
I love three topics, two of which are Baseball and politics. This university has stirred more intellectual, political rage in me than I can shake a stick at. So much so that sometimes our suffering of a few broken eggs as a university is something I don’t necessarily loathe. I don’t root for failure long term speaking, but we’ve been shooting a flawed jump shot for quite some time now, to play on a sports analogy.
I am brainstorming different mediums. You’ve given this thought, what are your alternatives putting your modest inhibitions aside?

]]> Comment on Our University – Discrimination by Ryan http://walterwendler.wordpress.com/2009/07/24/our-university-%e2%80%93-discrimination/#comment-86 Ryan Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:15:43 +0000 http://walterwendler.wordpress.com/?p=214#comment-86 Alright, I'm really not Kathy Bates' character in "Misery", but really, it couldn't be stated any better Dr. Wendler. Will someone give an 'Amen' already? Perfect comparison of the mortgage crisis and this university. I would go a step further and highlight how others are affected by this exploitation, most notably, those who ARE able, ready, and willing to study and discover at a 4 year, research extensive university. I put them in that order because that is the natural method, or should be when untampered with. It's unfair to misguide people with the philosophy that education is for everyone. Some folks simply do not want to go on to higher education. There is nothing wrong with this. To think otherwise is un-American. I have friends who were far less cut out for the day to day of college, therefore did not go to college and now make a significant amount more of money than I do as plumbers, electricians and yes, even prison guards here in southern Illinois. I am sure by focusing on the number of students at my rather large high school, my guidance counselor had less time to spend with students like myself who needed an agent if you will with scholarship notices and other merit based pointers that a middle-class challenged family such as mine was faced with. Universities guilty of what you have outlined are no different than pimps. Everything is connected, just like the song "Dry Bones", the fiscal mishap of trying to educate everyone will/has caught up to us. How many truly gifted middle class kids gave up on their dreams and abilities because of this pinching out? One less doctor, one less chemist, one less inventor... Alright, I’m really not Kathy Bates’ character in “Misery”, but really, it couldn’t be stated any better Dr. Wendler. Will someone give an ‘Amen’ already? Perfect comparison of the mortgage crisis and this university. I would go a step further and highlight how others are affected by this exploitation, most notably, those who ARE able, ready, and willing to study and discover at a 4 year, research extensive university. I put them in that order because that is the natural method, or should be when untampered with. It’s unfair to misguide people with the philosophy that education is for everyone. Some folks simply do not want to go on to higher education. There is nothing wrong with this. To think otherwise is un-American. I have friends who were far less cut out for the day to day of college, therefore did not go to college and now make a significant amount more of money than I do as plumbers, electricians and yes, even prison guards here in southern Illinois. I am sure by focusing on the number of students at my rather large high school, my guidance counselor had less time to spend with students like myself who needed an agent if you will with scholarship notices and other merit based pointers that a middle-class challenged family such as mine was faced with. Universities guilty of what you have outlined are no different than pimps. Everything is connected, just like the song “Dry Bones”, the fiscal mishap of trying to educate everyone will/has caught up to us. How many truly gifted middle class kids gave up on their dreams and abilities because of this pinching out? One less doctor, one less chemist, one less inventor…

]]> Comment on Our University – History and Habit by BOBBY KERN http://walterwendler.wordpress.com/2009/08/07/our-university-%e2%80%93-history-and-habit/#comment-82 BOBBY KERN Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:13:31 +0000 http://walterwendler.wordpress.com/?p=221#comment-82 Thanks Walter-good articles. God Bless. I agree, our backgrounds and experiences define us and usually cause some "blind spots" to other perspectives. My theory and experiences are that the blind spots might contain solutions to why we don't progress. So, the danger of not being open minded about getting informed about blind spots is real. Coming from my secular business and even some university background in computers for 5 or 6 yrs at SIU. IE: Pre eng. and the joint program for 10 selected from the business side of SIU due to it closing during the Viet war) directly under Dr Malvin Moore and Dr. John King to be a Univ Administrator. Both, friends and advisors. Being rather independent, rather than pursue a doctorate, I opted to start the C-21 real estate offices in the area. My wife then and I were the founders. Later merged with Jim Cherry. The point: then, when I really woke up to God and thus spent 7.5 yrs at Dr. Kennedy's church as a learning layman; I thought that I had rich backgrounds in both the secular world and the church and was called to use that to help "BRIDGE the GAP" between the two. Even with DR. Kennedy for whom I owe much and had deepest respect; I saw very regimented thinking not very open minded to "blind spots" regarding the culture they wanted to change. I was surprised and frustrated and could read that he was puzzled by me. Dedicated friends who shared the same views and experiences said that I wasted my life trying to get through to them. It drove me that much more to think that this is my calling as I don't quit because of frustration with a giant problem-- as little was easy in scripture. This is the course that I am on today and your article made me think of my own personal journey with the Lord. Keep up the good articles as you have a some what unique perspective for him with your university background . Bobby Kern. Thanks Walter-good articles. God Bless. I agree, our backgrounds and experiences define us and usually cause some “blind spots” to other perspectives. My theory and experiences are that the blind spots might contain solutions to why we don’t progress. So, the danger of not being open minded about getting informed about blind spots is real.

Coming from my secular business and even some university background in computers for 5 or 6 yrs at SIU. IE: Pre eng. and the joint program for 10 selected from the business side of SIU due to it closing during the Viet war) directly under Dr Malvin Moore and Dr. John King to be a Univ Administrator. Both, friends and advisors. Being rather independent, rather than pursue a doctorate, I opted to start the C-21 real estate offices in the area. My wife then and I were the founders. Later merged with Jim Cherry.

The point: then, when I really woke up to God and thus spent 7.5 yrs at Dr. Kennedy’s church as a learning layman; I thought that I had rich backgrounds in both the secular world and the church and was called to use that to help “BRIDGE the GAP” between the two.

Even with DR. Kennedy for whom I owe much and had deepest respect; I saw very regimented thinking not very open minded to “blind spots” regarding the culture they wanted to change. I was surprised and frustrated and could read that he was puzzled by me. Dedicated friends who shared the same views and experiences said that I wasted my life trying to get through to them. It drove me that much more to think that this is my calling as I don’t quit because of frustration with a giant problem– as little was easy in scripture.

This is the course that I am on today and your article made me think of my own personal journey with the Lord. Keep up the good articles as you have a some what unique perspective for him with your university background .
Bobby Kern.

]]> Comment on Our University – Stimulus by Mike http://walterwendler.wordpress.com/2009/02/27/our-university-%e2%80%93-stimulus/#comment-32 Mike Sun, 01 Mar 2009 08:01:09 +0000 http://walterwendler.wordpress.com/?p=152#comment-32 Just passing by.Btw, you website have great content! _________________________________ Making Money <a href="http://tinyurl.com/rich-quickly/1087030" rel="nofollow">$150 An Hour</a> Just passing by.Btw, you website have great content!

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]]> Comment on Beat the High Cost of College by Nick http://walterwendler.wordpress.com/2007/12/19/beat-the-high-cost-of-college/#comment-22 Nick Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:03:38 +0000 http://walterwendler.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-22 Prices can do what they want. It's up to us to say no. www.nickonomics.wordpress.com Prices can do what they want. It’s up to us to say no.

http://www.nickonomics.wordpress.com

]]> Comment on Our University and the Idea of Accountability by Marilyn Rainey http://walterwendler.wordpress.com/2008/04/25/our-university-and-the-idea-of-accountability/#comment-9 Marilyn Rainey Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:52:28 +0000 http://walterwendler.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-9 Absolutely! Well said! Absolutely! Well said!

]]> Comment on Our University- Some Hints for Students by Stacey Derbinshire http://walterwendler.wordpress.com/2008/04/17/our-university-some-hints-for-students/#comment-5 Stacey Derbinshire Thu, 17 Apr 2008 19:56:36 +0000 http://walterwendler.wordpress.com/?p=22#comment-5 I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future. Stacey Derbinshire I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. I just added you to my Google News Reader. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.

Stacey Derbinshire

]]> Comment on Moral Perspective at Our University by Marilyn Rainey http://walterwendler.wordpress.com/2008/04/09/moral-perspective-at-our-university/#comment-4 Marilyn Rainey Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:06:06 +0000 http://walterwendler.wordpress.com/?p=21#comment-4 I have the unique opportunity to enjoy working for one university and learning through another university. On some occasions, there have been some disturbing moments that I have witnessed in the treatment of students and workers. Leaders should aspire those qualities of fairness, caring, responsibility, repect, trustworthiness, and display citizenship through their actions, publications, teachings, and leadership AND take them to heart. Personal development is as important as professional development and, in my mind, the two should be continually enhanced in order to display moral judgments and actions. Not only do our universities reflect us, but we reflect on the university as well... I have the unique opportunity to enjoy working for one university and learning through another university. On some occasions, there have been some disturbing moments that I have witnessed in the treatment of students and workers. Leaders should aspire those qualities of fairness, caring, responsibility, repect, trustworthiness, and display citizenship through their actions, publications, teachings, and leadership AND take them to heart. Personal development is as important as professional development and, in my mind, the two should be continually enhanced in order to display moral judgments and actions. Not only do our universities reflect us, but we reflect on the university as well…

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