I saw in another thread that the new Collat building was pulled from the agenda. According to a professor I spoke with, politics (as usual) is at play and it looks like the effort will be shot down. UA wants to be the go-to source for general business education in Birmingham. Anything UAB's business school wishes to do has to be framed within a public health context. Take it for what it's worth.
(11-05-2014 11:37 PM)BirminghamBound Wrote: [ -> ]I saw in another thread that the new Collat building was pulled from the agenda. According to a professor I spoke with, politics (as usual) is at play and it looks like the effort will be shot down. UA wants to be the go-to source for general business education in Birmingham. Anything UAB's business school wishes to do has to be framed within a public health context. Take it for what it's worth.
The football gambit is not just about football. Entire undergrad programs, and student life (especially student life), are under similar threats. The football threat is just the most imminent and the one we've yelled the loudest about. All-in-all, I'm convinced that when Watts is done the value of my undergrad and master's degree will have plummeted by any measure. And, yes, that ultimately pisses me off more than football.
(11-05-2014 11:57 PM)blazr Wrote: [ -> ] (11-05-2014 11:37 PM)BirminghamBound Wrote: [ -> ]I saw in another thread that the new Collat building was pulled from the agenda. According to a professor I spoke with, politics (as usual) is at play and it looks like the effort will be shot down. UA wants to be the go-to source for general business education in Birmingham. Anything UAB's business school wishes to do has to be framed within a public health context. Take it for what it's worth.
The football gambit is not just about football. Entire undergrad programs, and student life (especially student life), are under similar threats. The football threat is just the most imminent and the one we've yelled the loudest about. All-in-all, I'm convinced that when Watts is done the value of my undergrad and master's degree will have plummeted by any measure. And, yes, that ultimately pisses me off more than football.
This!
I'm telling you. After reading “New Lights in the Valley,” ua never wanted UAB to grow. It's a threat to ua and Tuscaloosa.
I'm curious how many other departments/schools have to work within this vice. Even the leadership academy had to be framed as a healthcare leadership program. What message is this sending to donors when the initiatives and buildings they fund can't even get past board approval and BOT politics?
(11-06-2014 12:05 AM)rook360 Wrote: [ -> ]This!
I'm telling you. After reading “New Lights in the Valley,” ua never wanted UAB to grow. It's a threat to ua and Tuscaloosa.
Required reading.
If the BOT/Watts has there way our degrees will be meaningless
Ultimately, although I am guilty of it, it's a fool's assumption that the backwards, inbred, corrupt, and inept political powers embedded in the state of Alabama that have hampered, halted, blocked, grandstanded, and ultimately bungled every single thing they have ever touched would never come around to kneecapping such a conspicuous economic and progressive engine as UAB. There's no real evidence to expect otherwise. Hello from the 2nd state other than Alabama I've called home in the last 5 years!
"Hallelujah!! Holy ****!! Where's the Tylenol?"
They seem intent on returning UAB to nothing more than an extension center. If any of this proves true, it's time to sever the ties.
(11-06-2014 12:22 AM)Desert_Blazer Wrote: [ -> ]They seem intent on returning UAB to nothing more than an extension center. If any of this proves true, it's time to sever the ties.
Um, that would be a process controlled by the same Neanderthals.
(11-06-2014 12:22 AM)Desert_Blazer Wrote: [ -> ]They seem intent on returning UAB to nothing more than an extension center. If any of this proves true, it's time to sever the ties.
This is precisely the objective. Trust me on this one. It's been in the works for a while. It took the bot finding Watts as their perfect minion to make it unfold.
So what do we do then? As we've seen, the BOT always gets its way. If Watts is in their back pocket, no amount of emails or signs at games is going to change anything.
(11-06-2014 12:25 AM)blazr Wrote: [ -> ] (11-06-2014 12:22 AM)Desert_Blazer Wrote: [ -> ]They seem intent on returning UAB to nothing more than an extension center. If any of this proves true, it's time to sever the ties.
Um, that would be a process controlled by the same Neanderthals.
I know it's impossible, but it's certainly justified. This sucks.
(11-06-2014 12:58 AM)BlazerPhil Wrote: [ -> ]So what do we do ?
Drink. Or take up drinking.
(11-06-2014 01:08 AM)blazr Wrote: [ -> ] (11-06-2014 12:58 AM)BlazerPhil Wrote: [ -> ]So what do we do ?
Drink. Or take up drinking.
double maker's & water, currently sweating on the coaster.
It's been said many times before, but it bears repeating. UAB will never come close to reaching its full potential as part of the UA system.
(11-06-2014 12:58 AM)BlazerPhil Wrote: [ -> ]So what do we do ?
We effing fight it, and we do it smarter than we did when they killed the OCS. Might not win, but we can shine some light on what is going on.
Don't make it about the BOT or we'll get the "Those crazy paranoid UAB guys are at it again." Don't attack UA, because it's not UA, it's a small cabal in power, and because as soon as you attack UA 70% of the state will reflexively oppose us. Talk about how supporting UAB is good for Birmingham. Talk about the dollars and business that will grow around the city. Be positive... but write, call, and put butts in seats at LF, starting Saturday.
It is important to keep your cool and be very reasonable and rational and in control.
As to Collat, I had heard that there was to be some reworking of the proposal. Maybe someone who knows more than I can speak to that.
I am going to take a different opinion - I realize that you guys think that the BOT needs to be left out of the discussion - I disagree - THEY ARE THE DISCUSSION. Period... By making it about the BOT, it does pretty much make it all or nothing. I think we are at the all or nothing phase.
We have no evidence that the BoT is involved, none. We all expect dirty backroom dealing from them, and it's very likely there... but prove it so that a neutral observer can objectively see the proof? Good luck with that.