Comments on: Clemson’s Bureaucratic Explosion

By: Lauriet

Lauriet — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:55:22 +0000

I find it very disheartening that one of my former professors, Dr. John Bednar, is attacking Dr. Barker in such an undermining manner. As an L&IT graduate and as a former Clemson University employee (Plant & Environmental Science Dept.), I feel it is my duty to stand up for Dr. Barker. The Barker family is a tremendous asset to our community–not only to the University family but to the community at large–and I feel that it is ludicrous for Dr. Bednar to try to promote himself or his own personal agenda when the problem is related to the general economy as a whole. I emphatically exercise MY ability to use “free speech” to SUPPORT the President AND his wife. I believe in this man and his family and more importantly what he has done as a leader at Clemson University. In regards to his salary, he deserves it! I don’t see anyone throwing stones with his qualifications. Fine leaders should be compensated well, it is not easy leading some people…especially disgruntled employees. Those who have nothing better to do with their time than complain and cause dissent, need to go live on an island…maybe then they could simply drive THEMSELVES crazy. Clemson University is a strong school in SPITE of the economy BECAUSE of its leadership. The financial issues it is experiencing are due to an economic crisis. This is not the time to criticize leadership, this is a time to embrace what we have and provide support so that we may come out stronger. Go tigers!

By: The Great College Hoax

The Great College Hoax — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:28:58 +0000

http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0202/060.html

I would suggest readers view this latest article, called The Great College Hoax, in Forbes to see more of the problems at our colleges.

From the article,

“There are a lot of aspects of selling education that are tinged with consumer fraud,” Sander says. “There is a definite conspiracy to lead students down a primrose path.”

By: The Truth

The Truth — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 09:00:13 +0000

It’s a shame that this is the person to report on this topic because coming from a nutjob like this no one will believe it. Where on earth did you get your numbers? Here are some numbers. There were only two states that cut funding for higher education between fiscal year 2008 and 2009 by double digits. Want to guess who led the way with a 17.7% cut? There are only three states that increased state funding for higher education by less than 10% between FY 1999 and FY 2008? Want to guess which state was last? Even behind Mississippi? As to your argument about per capita spending SC ranks 42nd. As to your claim that Clemson’s budget, your number may be correct but you are not telling the whole truth. While the budget has increased state appropriations have decreased significantly. Surely a free marketer like yourself is not offended by an institution growing by finding outside funding sources, are you?

If you want to expose the things going on at Clemson, please, be my guest. Why not investigate where the money CBBS students are paying to the college is going and how it is being spent? Things like that need to be exposed. But don’t then completely discredit your argument by presenting “facts” that simply are not true. Just because you live in SC doesn’t mean you have to act as if you were educated in SC.

By: Mattheus Mei

Mattheus Mei — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:42:39 +0000

Higher Education Reform, a phrase and a goal I think we share. My question is – what’s the root of the problem. You say it’s government bloating – I say our public institutions of higher learning (across the country) are structurally deficient.

Universities at some point in time (I think the 80’s) assumed a more corporatist structure which as we know is profit driven. Profit here is not cash, but intellectual and institutional prestige. Money is a means as well as a component to the end of this model. The more money a university amasses -in it’s endowment the more talent it can draw, the more talent it can draw the more money it can potentially produce for the community.

I suppose when the factories all went to China we had to produce something to feel American.

It’s not the end product that bothers me. I think it’s great that when you invest in Universities that there is a significant cultural output and economic benefit to the larger community. The problem is how much money is an appropriate investment, and what are the Universities doing internally to make sure the investment is spent wisely.

What’s happened to our large financial institutions is happening to our higher ed system.

No it’s not a matter of government bloat for these executives of higher education, it’s something completely else…

By: Edward

Edward — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:40:05 +0000

TK,

Do me a favor and compare Clemson and South Carolina in every objective collegiate academic, well athletic too, ranking list on the face of the Earth and tell me what conclusion you draw.

Clemson is a vastly superior academic institution to South Carolina. Clemson even has a superior undergraduate business department, according to every ranking list you will fine. South Carolina has a better journalism department, and that is basically it.

The above is saying if a bunch of “toothless wonders,” are running circles around the, “flagship university of the state of South Carolina,” what does it say about those idiots holed up on the ugliest campus on the face of the Earth?

By: Toyota Kawaski

Toyota Kawaski — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:10:54 +0000

what do you expect from a bunch dam toothless wonders

By: Clemson Grad

Clemson Grad — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:25:43 +0000

The charter, Mr. Clemson’s will, would be prevent Clemson from being governed by a board of directors appointed by the state. But hell why conduct any research just call the BOT and Administration arrogant and dismiss the facts.

I would like to see actual numbers in dollars for the funds appropriated for the education of students at Clemson. I would imagine that those numbers are similar to 1995 and continue to be limited by the idiots in the General Assembly.

But there are issues that need to be resolved at Clemson and other state supported institutions; including administrative cost and monies wasted.