10-20-99 Eastern Echo

Great People at EMU: we know who you are

It starts here. Last week I talked about EMU's inferiority complex, our overeagerness to negate our own worth as a university and how it relates to our collective self-image. Writing that column forced me to think of the reasons why our university might have such a bad attitude and I've come to the conclusion it's all in our heads. That's what I said, it's all in our heads. It's time to stop this cycle of self-abnegation and self-flagellation. (To say it in regular English: beating yourself black and blue, looking in the mirror-and wondering why you look so bad.) If we could only begin to change our minds, then perhaps we can begin to change our reality. It's time to applaud our best at Eastern. It's easy to find things to complain about on campus. But to battle this feeling of inadequacy EMU has cultivated we need to begin to focus on the commendable aspects of our university. We need to give credit where credit is due. We need to celebrate the best of our collective components and create a bond of common goals and respect. Our university cannot expect to receive respect if we do not first respect ourselves. I'm offering a challenge to the Eastern Michigan University community, a challenge to students, faculty and staff: Tell me who makes EMU great. Do you have a professor that inspires you, makes you laugh? A professor that makes every class interesting and forces you to think beyond the small world you exist in? Tell me about them. Is there a colleague of yours that is doing outstanding work in their fields? One who has consistently showed a dedication to their profession or who has a level of expertise that is a credit to our university? Tell me about them. Is there an administrator you know that has performed in their position above and beyond the call of duty to make Eastern a better place to work or learn? Someone who displays the dedication needed to propel our university into the next millennium? Tell me about them. I'm appealing not just to the students but to the entire community of Eastern Michigan University. It's time we all realized we are more than just separate segments of an organization, unconnected and unconcerned with the other departments or divisions. We have common goals and needs. Together we can be a community, and I think it's time we started creating positive images of ourselves in an effort to be more than what we are today. Happily I'll start us out on our quest to recognize the "best of the university." I've had professors here that have inspired me, amused me and most importantly have demanded that I consider notions that changed my belief-systems. One such professor is Dr. Joe Sciscila of the English department. He's somewhat new to our university, but teaches his classes with distinct insight into a student's needs, academic and emotional. He presents material succinctly, offers guidance in the subject without talking down to students, treats the students as adults and is able to keep every class interesting. I would highly recommend you consider taking any class he teaches. Dr. Margaret Crouch of the Philosophy department was another teacher of merit that I had the opportunity to study under. She forced our class to think of issues we had not considered; she encouraged us to speak freely without fear of ridicule. Her own exceptional intellect was the catalyst that forced us out of our comfortable worlds, she guided us on a journey of self-exploration, demanding we examine what we believed was "truth" and what was conjecture. There is a man who works in Pray-Harrold, I assume he is a janitor or building maintenance specialist. Slight of build with dark hair and glasses, he is quick to give a smile and nod whenever I pass him in the halls. I wish I knew his name, but I do not. He is a credit to the university for his sincere manner, and I appreciate being acknowledged in such a friendly way whenever I see him. When I find out his name I'll tell you a little more about him. Dr. Gilbert Cross of the English department-he knows everything about anything to do with literature and is a hoot besides. Dean Barry Fish of the college of arts and sciences is an exceptional administrator, and has a long history of service at EMU. Truly I could go on here for an hour. Now it's your turn. Stop and think about who you believe should get recognition for making Eastern an exceptional place to be. We need to break the habit of considering ourselves the "next-best," the fallback university or "the teacher's college." We are so much more. With some positive visualization I believe we can begin the process of developing a healthier self-image. Changing a well-worn attitude will not be easy. But we need to begin somewhere. Email me, write me, grab my coat as I walk past you on campus. Tell me your stories so I can share them with the rest of our community. Please give me some information about yourself so that I can contact you for more details should I need it; your email address or phone number would be best. (I don't necessarily need to use your name in the column, but I must be able to contact you to verify your contribution.) Tell me what's noteworthy about EMU. Tell me about someone who stands out as a great example for our community.   It needs to start here. Will you help me?