RE: Can UAB students forgive Ray Watts, even if they don't forget?
What President Ray Watts is probably counting on is that through normal attrition at least 50% of this year's student body will be gone elsewhere by January 2017 and even more will be gone from campus the following year. Unless newly arriving students buy into the "Fire Ray Watts" idea, he will not have to worry about his job ratings after 2016.
Now as far as us older folks are concerned, he can disregard us and our criticism as long as the BOT is willing to continue to back his play, and the state power brokers don't get involved. If either of the latter get involved, he will then pay close attention.
(This post was last modified: 03-22-2015 04:57 PM by BAMANBLAZERFAN.)
RE: Can UAB students forgive Ray Watts, even if they don't forget?
(03-22-2015 12:12 PM)58-56 Wrote: This is really interesting, combined with the columns by Watts' boy David Sher and that fool Roy S. Johnson, Watts' statements to Karle and Raita in Louisville, his demeanor leaving Yum Center (you can actually see his face and pumpkin head visibly grow redder as he nears the SUV), and what I've been told by senior UAB officials. Put it all together and:
Ray Watts is deeply, personally hurt by the Fire Ray Watts chant. He's mobilized what passes for his personal PR machine against it.
We cannot let up. We have to find new ways to spread the Fire Ray Watts message, make it viral, make it loud, make it visible. We have located a crack in his sociopathic armor. This is a chance, a small one but still a chance, to break the arrogant little bastard's morale. And that is very valuable to our cause.
I know some of you are inherently good people who may quail at the destruction of another human being, even one as despicable as Ray Watts. I'd remind you to watch the video below again. Remember what he did to Tristan Henderson. Remember what he did to Jordan Petty. Remember the bowling girl slumped on the pavement outside the football building.
I remember them all. I will not relent:
Fire Ray Watts!
I totally agree. I don't think he knew people would chant FRW straight in his face. I think he was stunned. I also believe he just learned that he will not ever be able to live a normal life on our campus without fear of people yelling directly in his face. As long as we are not in a building where it is inappropriate to yell, he will always get a healthy dose from me. I can't wait for my next opportunity. The more purple his face is, the bigger my smile is.
RE: Can UAB students forgive Ray Watts, even if they don't forget?
I never, ever, thought that the day would come that I would mock and ridicule a UAB President to his face. It was inconceivable to me. At my angriest and most obstinate, standing outside the Bart before the Callaway press conference, I packed up my protest and left because Carol Garrison asked me to.
I got to yell "Fire Ray Watts!" at him from a range of perhaps forty feet, and it was nearly as enjoyable as winning a tournament game.
I'll stop yelling FRW when the toad resigns his position, and not a day sooner.
RE: Can UAB students forgive Ray Watts, even if they don't forget?
That's laughable.
As students, we have exhausted every other option. We have literally tried every possible avenue. The student government voiced our dissatisfaction, the protests reflected how important the issues were, and there were even efforts made to establish ourselves at the state capital. Does that guy seriously think we're doing all this just because we want to play at Legion Field some more? Is he for real?
People are calling for him to be fired because it's clear that the people that dictate as such don't listen and don't care. It's a grievance being aired because more amicable solutions haven't provided anything of merit yet.
Now, to take a step back, I know that he's not a monster or a demon. He doesn't even deserve the hyperbole. He's just a lying hypocrite sitting in the most prestigious office our university has to offer. The thing, though, is that any good will I extended to him on account of being the president was something I discarded alongside any respect I ever had for him as a person.
Every since December, it has been all about business for Dr. Watts. No focus on what's better for the school. No attention paid to the human element. If he wants to focus on the dollars, then that's cool. That's why I did the same. Despite having one of the highest salaries for a university president, I, as a student, don't have anything to show for it except some no confidence votes, a damaged brand, a flimsy PR campaign, and the elimination of some teams. There's a real cost there, and that's to not even get into the internal politics and rumors floating around.
Dr. Watts stopped caring about the real people his decisions impacted so I've long since stopped caring how he felt about the chants. Forgetting? No way. Every time I see him, I remember how he talked down to the people that really loved the school and started his grandstanding rhetoric. He scarred and divided the school for who knows how long to come.
Forgive him? I would have laughed in that guy's face. I haven't seen a single thing. I haven't seen a single instance of Dr. Watts doing anything for the school that wasn't really being done to preserve that paycheck. If he wants the chants to stop, then he know what he has to do.
As students, we have exhausted every other option. We have literally tried every possible avenue. The student government voiced our dissatisfaction, the protests reflected how important the issues were, and there were even efforts made to establish ourselves at the state capital. Does that guy seriously think we're doing all this just because we want to play at Legion Field some more? Is he for real?
People are calling for him to be fired because it's clear that the people that dictate as such don't listen and don't care. It's a grievance being aired because more amicable solutions haven't provided anything of merit yet.
Now, to take a step back, I know that he's not a monster or a demon. He doesn't even deserve the hyperbole. He's just a lying hypocrite sitting in the most prestigious office our university has to offer. The thing, though, is that any good will I extended to him on account of being the president was something I discarded alongside any respect I ever had for him as a person.
Every since December, it has been all about business for Dr. Watts. No focus on what's better for the school. No attention paid to the human element. If he wants to focus on the dollars, then that's cool. That's why I did the same. Despite having one of the highest salaries for a university president, I, as a student, don't have anything to show for it except some no confidence votes, a damaged brand, a flimsy PR campaign, and the elimination of some teams. There's a real cost there, and that's to not even get into the internal politics and rumors floating around.
Dr. Watts stopped caring about the real people his decisions impacted so I've long since stopped caring how he felt about the chants. Forgetting? No way. Every time I see him, I remember how he talked down to the people that really loved the school and started his grandstanding rhetoric. He scarred and divided the school for who knows how long to come.
Forgive him? I would have laughed in that guy's face. I haven't seen a single thing. I haven't seen a single instance of Dr. Watts doing anything for the school that wasn't really being done to preserve that paycheck. If he wants the chants to stop, then he know what he has to do.
Excellently stated.
Outside of the four (currently three) revenue-sport coaches in Auburn and Tuscaloosa, is Watts the highest-paid employee of the State of Alabama?
RE: Can UAB students forgive Ray Watts, even if they don't forget?
As a current Senior at Vestavia Hills High School, I despise Ray Watts and the fact that everything to do with UAB must go through the BOT in Tuscaloosa. I am still planning on attending UAB next fall and I have totally "bought in" to Fire Ray Watts. But I believe that it will take more than a chant. A physical protest will capture attention, Maybe in T-town? I love UAB and Birmingham and plan to stay for the rest of my life. Common fans, alumni, and current students need to get together and stand behind the University and stand up against the BOT. Ray Watts is just a scapegoat for the BOT and as soon as the public realizes this, things will change.
(This post was last modified: 03-22-2015 08:11 PM by Slushey51.)
RE: Can UAB students forgive Ray Watts, even if they don't forget?
I see that the only way that we can make a change and get the football, bowling, and rifle teams back is by showing up. We need crowds to get together; first off to support our Blazers, but also to demonstrate that we are ever faithful and ever loyal to this cause.
RE: Can UAB students forgive Ray Watts, even if they don't forget?
(03-22-2015 05:16 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote: A protest here will be tolerated by the UAB police. A protest in Tuscaloosa may end with a bunch of folks paying bail.
And that is the problem. The only way things will change is by standing up to what people expect and not backing down.
RE: Can UAB students forgive Ray Watts, even if they don't forget?
(03-22-2015 05:23 PM)Slushey51 Wrote:
(03-22-2015 05:16 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote: A protest here will be tolerated by the UAB police. A protest in Tuscaloosa may end with a bunch of folks paying bail.
And that is the problem. The only way things will change is by standing up to what people expect and not backing down.
Sit-in in the admin building? UAB police might have to pull some arrests, but they won't rough anyone up.
(This post was last modified: 03-22-2015 05:32 PM by sadolakced.)
RE: Can UAB students forgive Ray Watts, even if they don't forget?
I would be down for a sit-in but as long as it stays out of the streets. We need to protest the university and make sure not to stop up the city. Vandalism and violence must not be tolerated because such actions can work against our efforts
(This post was last modified: 03-22-2015 05:46 PM by Slushey51.)
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Can UAB students forgive Ray Watts, even if they don't forget?
