11-01-2011, 07:21 PM
Fellow UAB fans,
Like many of you, I was shocked, outraged, and upset by BOT's decision to kill the proposal for UAB's OCS. Unlike many of you, I have been largely silent when it comes to matters of advocacy for our alma mater. I've tolerated the elitism and entitlement of certain elements in our state university system's leadership, feeling unable to affect any change in a system designed to render UAB powerless at every level.
And I owe all of you, my fellow fans and true believers, an apology. I have been part of the problem. That ends today.
I spent time reading the other various threads on this subject, and one of the commenters here mentioned how we are at war. He's right, and the stakes are, as many of you have guessed, far bigger than our football program.
Our OCS was a key piece of the Birmingham's economic development plan. And like many other of these initiatives, the good 'ol boy network of old money and antiquated interests is fighting desperately to prevent a revitalization of Birmingham. Many people around the state would prefer to see the Magic City fester and rot, ignorant of the simple concept that a raising tide lifts all boats.
And so, in the midst of our grief and anger, we're left with the question: What now? Many of you have called for immediate action. Something big. Winning this war requires a long term strategy. One that forces us to look beyond the upcoming Basketball season, and I say that to myself as much as anyone.
Protests, e-mail campaigns, letter writing, calling in to JOX, etc. All of these tactics have their place, but its what everyone expects. Sound and fury alone won't do it. A couple of suggestions:
1. Organize for the long-term: UAB needs an advocacy group that will build alumni support and persue the interests of the wider UAB community. I haven't gotten a single letter from the alumni society in almost 7 years. That's pathetic. The friends and alumni of UAB will need to put our wallets where our mouths are if we're to have the independence we deserve.
2. Learn how the UA System works: How the body is constituted and funded, how it is organized, what powers it has, what powers it doesn't. This is a system designed to prevent outside change at almost every level. We need to understand the system in order to separate UAB from it, or at least be treated as a coequal member of the system.
3. Recognize the opposition: We all know this, but it bears repeating--the UA System Board is very powerful, with powerful allies at all levels of government and business. It is no less than the beating heart of the good ol boy network in this State. Alabama fans are NOT our enemies here, and let's be clear about that. The best way to deal with the "Bammers" is to ignore them, as any Auburn man or woman would tell you.
Bryant Jr. and his cronies are terrified of UAB. They see the old football duopoly as the last vestige of a way of life they cherish. An independent, diverse urban university with a proud tradition of its own is the stuff of their darkest nightmares.
The UAB community deserves the same quality of life that our sister school in Tuscaloosa enjoys. But it's going to take all of us, our alumni, and our City to stand up to these people. They don't think we care enough. Let's give hell, Blazers.
Ever faithful, ever loyal
- JLayne
Like many of you, I was shocked, outraged, and upset by BOT's decision to kill the proposal for UAB's OCS. Unlike many of you, I have been largely silent when it comes to matters of advocacy for our alma mater. I've tolerated the elitism and entitlement of certain elements in our state university system's leadership, feeling unable to affect any change in a system designed to render UAB powerless at every level.
And I owe all of you, my fellow fans and true believers, an apology. I have been part of the problem. That ends today.
I spent time reading the other various threads on this subject, and one of the commenters here mentioned how we are at war. He's right, and the stakes are, as many of you have guessed, far bigger than our football program.
Our OCS was a key piece of the Birmingham's economic development plan. And like many other of these initiatives, the good 'ol boy network of old money and antiquated interests is fighting desperately to prevent a revitalization of Birmingham. Many people around the state would prefer to see the Magic City fester and rot, ignorant of the simple concept that a raising tide lifts all boats.
And so, in the midst of our grief and anger, we're left with the question: What now? Many of you have called for immediate action. Something big. Winning this war requires a long term strategy. One that forces us to look beyond the upcoming Basketball season, and I say that to myself as much as anyone.
Protests, e-mail campaigns, letter writing, calling in to JOX, etc. All of these tactics have their place, but its what everyone expects. Sound and fury alone won't do it. A couple of suggestions:
1. Organize for the long-term: UAB needs an advocacy group that will build alumni support and persue the interests of the wider UAB community. I haven't gotten a single letter from the alumni society in almost 7 years. That's pathetic. The friends and alumni of UAB will need to put our wallets where our mouths are if we're to have the independence we deserve.
2. Learn how the UA System works: How the body is constituted and funded, how it is organized, what powers it has, what powers it doesn't. This is a system designed to prevent outside change at almost every level. We need to understand the system in order to separate UAB from it, or at least be treated as a coequal member of the system.
3. Recognize the opposition: We all know this, but it bears repeating--the UA System Board is very powerful, with powerful allies at all levels of government and business. It is no less than the beating heart of the good ol boy network in this State. Alabama fans are NOT our enemies here, and let's be clear about that. The best way to deal with the "Bammers" is to ignore them, as any Auburn man or woman would tell you.
Bryant Jr. and his cronies are terrified of UAB. They see the old football duopoly as the last vestige of a way of life they cherish. An independent, diverse urban university with a proud tradition of its own is the stuff of their darkest nightmares.
The UAB community deserves the same quality of life that our sister school in Tuscaloosa enjoys. But it's going to take all of us, our alumni, and our City to stand up to these people. They don't think we care enough. Let's give hell, Blazers.
Ever faithful, ever loyal
- JLayne