(06-22-2017 02:47 PM)PaulJ Wrote: Yes the devil is always in the details and implementation, and lots of work and discussion needs to be undertaken, but at least the aim is there, why not state a goal and shoot for it, what is the alternative (do nothing or as in past make no effort or investments?).
If that bifurcation is the definition of "alternative" by campus leadership, UT is in more trouble than even the lack of rating indicates.
"Why not state a goal?" Did someone say not to state a goal? Did I say not to state a goal? Political twisting of words not even oppositional simply because they are not laudatory would be another reason to not trust leadership. It's that "whack-a-mole" mentality I mentioned, people that have never "fixed" anything, who in this case actually were part of the decay, knocking down ideas and dialogue. Twisting, miss quoting, misstatement or listening with one ear. What's not being got, people should have had enough of that from the University and local leadership.
Goal statements are empty political statements without timelines of expected measurable successes, assignment and acceptance of responsibility for meeting those successes, needs assessment and a rallying call to the community for participation and opportunity. They might as well of said they're going to incorporate with MIT. Just as realistic and as meaningless.
Goal statements are realistic. If you tell people to climb an unrealistic wall, they will not even attempt the accent. "Top 100?" Give me a time-frame. Is it 50 or is it 100 years? How long until after the people who made it are dead and not responsible for the words?
That anyone would see those words as something other than empty rhetoric is a very bad sign but it has become accepted in the community. That's why we're so slow to progress. The leaders are happy to say, "good times ahead" but slow to put substance to them. The community is happy to accept. And we make lists like "most dangerous city," "eighth most depressed,"....
Substance. Give people a realistic goal and then tell them how they can help to attain it. Tell them their role in making something they can be proud of. THEN, you will get results.