SGA Fee Proposals

https://scontent-dfw5-2.xx.fbcdn.net...HA&oe=6246546B

LATech SGA | Facebook

If we don't lose other institutional support, this would a 14.6 increase of our revenue for year ending 6/30/21 Louisiana Tech University - NCAA (state.la.us)

Please encourage students you know to vote yes. Otherwise, keep cheering for lsu while lumping us in with ulm and Grambling.

I look for institutional support to be reduced -

That’s just who we are

Why does Greek life need a fee? Otherwise it looks fine.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden

I look for institutional support to be reduced -

That’s just who we are

---

Doing that would mean death to all of Tech athletics.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dawgonit

Why does Greek life need a fee? Otherwise it looks fine.

---

Would that be a deal breaker for you? Obviously it is a very small percentage and part of the package to encourage the greeks to continue their support athletics.

Everyone's favorite :bomb: history professor has been all over twitter and facebook waging his personal war against it's passage -

How he remains employed is beyond me -

I think it's good to have all types of opinions on campus but he takes his WAY OVER the acceptable line

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden

Everyone's favorite :bomb: history professor has been all over twitter and facebook waging his personal war against it's passage -

How he remains employed is beyond me -

I think it's good to have all types of opinions on campus but he takes his WAY OVER the acceptable line

---

He remains employed because the standards he desires to enforce do not actually exist, to his benefit.

I have been pretty vocal each time this comes up that we have to do a good job explaining how this benefits the university as a whole.

I believe it does, but that's got to be part of the sell.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden

Everyone's favorite :bomb: history professor has been all over twitter and facebook waging his personal war against it's passage -

How he remains employed is beyond me -

I think it's good to have all types of opinions on campus but he takes his WAY OVER the acceptable line

---

Nah, I like him. I dont subscribe to all the Prof's positions, but he makes some salient points. And it if wasnt him, it'd just be someone else. Every university is always going have THAT one pot-stirring professor.

Anyway, I think he's a hoot. A jaded, cynical hoot.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Champ967

Nah, I like him. I dont subscribe to all the Prof's positions, but he makes some salient points. And it if wasnt him, it'd just be someone else. Every university is always going have THAT one pot-stirring professor.

Anyway, I think he's a hoot. A jaded, cynical hoot.

---

He is persona non-grata in basically every parish in north la -

He is anything but a hoot and he is far from a pot stirrer

So based on those numbers, we have 24.6k full time student enrollment????

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden

I look for institutional support to be reduced -

That’s just who we are

---

Would that be a ULS Board action ? That would be... Very bad. I cant imagine going through all of this and having that happen.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden

He is persona non-grata in basically every parish in north la -

He is anything but a hoot and he is far from a pot stirrer

---

Are we talking about the history prof who lives in S'port?

I only know about him from twitter. Where I -- generally speaking -- appreciate his perspective on things, if not his delivery. His criticism of poorly managed public institutions and incompetent / corrupt officials is not unlike what we read on this board.

But if there's also some real-life bridge-burning / jackassery going on in person .... well, then that's a shame.

I don’t know who you guys are referring to. I had 1 history class at Tech. We referred to our prof as Caesar. He was weird, but I don’t remember him being vocal about things on campus.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Haughtondawg

So based on those numbers, we have 24.6k full time student enrollment????

---

Looks like 8200. Expected funds divided by Fee x 3 (quarters in a year).

That 150 bucks is about 20 bucks less than my full tuition (excluding room and board) when I was a freshman in the late 70s!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by techman05

I don’t know who you guys are referring to. I had 1 history class at Tech. We referred to our prof as Caesar. He was weird, but I don’t remember him being vocal about things on campus.

---

Dr Wade Mead loved ancient Rome and came to class dressed in a toga from time to time. Is that who yall called Ceasar?

He also liked to tell the story about how HE was THE last US Marine to withdraw from N. Korea. And also that he was in the 1st grade when Narmer unified Egypt into a single kingdom in 3100 BC.

Anyway, that's not who we're talking about.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dawgonit

Why does Greek life need a fee? Otherwise it looks fine.

---

That's easy. To get their "yes" vote.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Haughtondawg

So based on those numbers, we have 24.6k full time student enrollment????

---

Enrollment Data | Institutional Effectiveness, Research, and Planning (latech.edu) Maybe that's an annual number / $150/quarter.

(1) Drew McKevitt on Twitter: "Tech students: the SGA wants you to vote on a new $150 fee that you'd be required to pay. $135 of that $150 would go to athletics, which already receives millions of dollars a year in subsidies from the university. https://t.co/2YCFvqSA2y" / Twitter

These students have no idea how good they have it. I have said before that I paid $135/semester to park on campus at Baylor, in 2000-2001. If fees and costs don’t go up annually, you are constantly falling further behind, in every area of the university.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sportdawg

(1) Drew McKevitt on Twitter: "Tech students: the SGA wants you to vote on a new $150 fee that you'd be required to pay. $135 of that $150 would go to athletics, which already receives millions of dollars a year in subsidies from the university. https://t.co/2YCFvqSA2y" / Twitter

---

Well, that was some interesting reading. I guess you can be well educated and still be tremendously stupid.

Take that money the greeks are paying and turn right back around and give it out as prizes for attending games. $100 here, $1000 there for bigger games etc. It incentivizes the them to vote yes, and then does the same thing to encourage participation and attendance in campus activities. Maybe hold $5000 grand of it back for a lump prize to the frat/sorority that earned the most points at the end of the year. Nothing extra from our budget but more than they get now as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DawgyNWindow

Looks like 8200. Expected funds divided by Fee x 3 (quarters in a year).

That 150 bucks is about 20 bucks less than my full tuition (excluding room and board) when I was a freshman in the late 70s!

---

Ahhh! Was thinking fees were annual not quarterly. Thanks for clarification.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PawDawg

Would that be a deal breaker for you? Obviously it is a very small percentage and part of the package to encourage the greeks to continue their support athletics.

---

I'm against that part but it's not a deal breaker as the bill overall seems to be beneficial. If I were a politician that voted for it to get the benefits through, that one part of the bill I voted for would come back to haunt me in the midterms for sure :laugh:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DallasDog

Take that money the greeks are paying and turn right back around and give it out as prizes for attending games. $100 here, $1000 there for bigger games etc. It incentivizes the them to vote yes, and then does the same thing to encourage participation and attendance in campus activities. Maybe hold $5000 grand of it back for a lump prize to the frat/sorority that earned the most points at the end of the year. Nothing extra from our budget but more than they get now as well.

---

If this is the plan, then I'm fully on board with it. Greeks do a great job supporting athletics relatively to the rest of the student body. I like supporting them but I don't see the need of students to pay for student organizations that don't represent and benefit the whole student body and students choose to participate in. Anyway I don't want to derail this thread into a greek life conversation.

A real questions and topic ....Is this the rumored proposed fee the school was going to implement on the hopes of getting into the AAC?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dawgonit

I'm against that part but it's not a deal breaker as the bill overall seems to be beneficial. If I were a politician that voted for it to get the benefits through, that one part of the bill I voted for would come back to haunt me in the midterms for sure :laugh:




If this is the plan, then I'm fully on board with it. Greeks do a great job supporting athletics relatively to the rest of the student body. I like supporting them but I don't see the need of students to pay for student organizations that don't represent and benefit the whole student body and students choose to participate in. Anyway I don't want to derail this thread into a greek life conversation.

A real questions and topic ....Is this the rumored proposed fee the school was going to implement on the hopes of getting into the AAC?

---

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/wV...sTnhpK0Zr8Q34g

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DawgyNWindow

Well, that was some interesting reading. I guess you can be well educated and still be tremendously stupid.

---

Does this history teacher bring in any money to the university via grants or books? Or is he one that just draws a check for teaching classes in which a grad student performs most of the work?

Most of the work in a history class can be done by the student provided he has accurate material to read.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Haughtondawg

So based on those numbers, we have 24.6k full time student enrollment????

---

8,200 full-time undergraduates averaged over fall, winter, and spring quarters. Numbers always shrink through the year.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sportdawg

If we don't lose other institutional support, this would a 14.6 increase of our revenue for year ending 6/30/21 Louisiana Tech University - NCAA (state.la.us)

---

So, that would put us within a million of a $40 million budget? Wasn't that the number bandied about during the AAC expansion talks?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by johnnylightnin

So, that would put us within a million of a $40 million budget? Wasn't that the number bandied about during the AAC expansion talks?

---

The 14% increase would be on the latest figures in the $23 million range.

Why should non-greeks pay a fee that goes toward greeks? Does this also include the band greeks or just the mainstream ones? Why do main greeks need this money?

And what is “Sports Clubs” referring to?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FriscoDawg

The 14% increase would be on the latest figures in the $23 million range.

---

I read too fast…14.6% not 14.6 million.

Hardly game changing. Crazy that our budget has only grown about 5 million in the last few decades.

This fee doesn’t really make a dent in where we need to be.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tech52

Why should non-greeks pay a fee that goes toward greeks? Does this also include the band greeks or just the mainstream ones? Why do main greeks need this money?

And what is “Sports Clubs” referring to?

---

Lot of pork in this bill methinks

I think the point was to bring representatives from the major campus organizations to the table so that each can benefit from the fee. Of course, the main objective is to increase the athletic budget but these increases for the other groups are significant based upon what their current budgets. Most universities would have attempted to slip this in under the table without giving anything to anybody else.

'Greek Life What will the $2.00 go towards? Provide financial resources to help with the hiring of a full-time Greek Life Coordinator.

Athletics What will the $135.00 go towards? Provide financial resources to help with the cost of attendance for student athletes, nutrition, sports medicine, academic services, gender equity, improved game day experience, and Louisiana Tech brand engagement.'

'Spirit Groups Cheer, Regal Blues, Champ, Band What will the $5.00 go towards? Provide practice facilities for these groups as well as assist them throughout the year.

Sports Clubs What will the $1.00 go towards? Provide financial resources to help with uniforms and travel expenses for these teams.'

Gender Equity? Vote No

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by techman05

Gender Equity? Vote No

---

A line item veto would be nice.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DawgyNWindow

Well, that was some interesting reading. I guess you can be well educated and still be tremendously stupid.

---

My thoughts exactly. And we wonder sometimes why some students come out so screwed up.

Gender equality = Title IX...not to be confused with gender identity

I don't care for either one, but Tech has been ALL ABOUT gender equality for years.

This is about getting our budget increased, but WTH, lets join the SLC and buy more yellow and purple.

Most of the time, the word equity is used on purpose. Equality and equity aren’t the same thing, but those who write the rules hope we don’t notice. I hope our people aren’t proposing equity.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by johnnylightnin

I read too fast…14.6% not 14.6 million.

Hardly game changing. Crazy that our budget has only grown about 5 million in the last few decades.

This fee doesn’t really make a dent in where we need to be.

---

$5 million growth "in the last few decades" is a false statement. Tech was basically at $25 million for 2018-2019 and dropped into the $23 million range for 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. Tech was last under $20 million in 2013-2014, so that was a $5 million increase (over 25%) in just 5 years from '13-14 to '18-19.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FriscoDawg

$5 million growth "in the last few decades" is a false statement. Tech was basically at $25 million for 2018-2019 and dropped into the $23 million range for 2019-2020. Tech was last under $20 million in 2013-2014, so that was a $5 million increase (over 25%) in just 5 years from '13-14 to '18-19.

---

You’re focusing on the wrong part of the post.

Regardless, we’re not at $25 million. When we’re we last at $18 million?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by johnnylightnin

You’re focusing on the wrong part of the post.

Regardless, we’re not at $25 million. When we’re we last at $18 million?

---

In 13-14. Our proposal to CUSA in 2012 was that we would get up to a $20 million plus budget by our third year in the league. We got there in either our second or third year.

For reference here are referendum results for fees since 1992.

In 1992 - "Centennial Plaza Plan" fee passed with 88% voting for the fee (1,201 to 162)

In 2002 - "20 for 20" passed with 82% voting for the fee. (1,218 to 268)

In 2004 - "Get More" passed with 70% voting for the fee.

In 2006 - "20 for 20" renewal passed with 87% voting for the fee.

In 2007 - "Change for Change" passed with 85% voting for the fee.

In 2012 - "Enhancement" passed with 84% voting for the fee.

Also, I was told the student fee vote prior to the Centennial Plaza vote was for the Lambright Center in the late 70s, which was the only student fee vote in the 70s. I don't have the numbers, but was told it easily passed.

Every generation of Tech students in the past 50 years has voted "yes" to well-thought out and meaningful fee increases. Let's see if this group of Tech students does its part in moving the university forward.

I voted yes in 2002

The fees don't materially change anything in our overall position and there are some very questionable areas.
Hopefully, it will fall flat and we can get some real changes in place. This is simply a grab at a fire extinguisher when every dang floor is already on fire....too little, too late.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Historian

Every generation of Tech students in the past 50 years has voted "yes" to well-thought out and meaningful fee increases. Let's see if this group of Tech students does its part in moving the university forward.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by faninmonroe

The fees don't materially change anything in our overall position and there are some very questionable areas.
Hopefully, it will fall flat and we can get some real changes in place. This is simply a grab at a fire extinguisher when every dang floor is already on fire....too little, too late.

---

This fee increase has only been possible in the last couple of years since the dollar-for-dollar reduction in direct support for fee increases was removed. Even if direct support is reduced slightly it would still be a net increase with the new fee.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by faninmonroe

The fees don't materially change anything in our overall position and there are some very questionable areas.
Hopefully, it will fall flat and we can get some real changes in place. This is simply a grab at a fire extinguisher when every dang floor is already on fire....too little, too late.

---

Real changes from where? This change is HUGE! Initial changes MUST come from student fees. This has been needed for years.

Again, the alternative is to keep being another ulm or grambling in this crappy UL system and just keep encouraging our students and alumni to support lsu.

Quote:

---

(1) Drew McKevitt on Twitter: "Tech students: the SGA wants you to vote on a new $150 fee that you'd be required to pay. $135 of that $150 would go to athletics, which already receives millions of dollars a year in subsidies from the university. https://t.co/2YCFvqSA2y" / Twitter

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DawgyNWindow

Well, that was some interesting reading. I guess you can be well educated and still be tremendously stupid.

---

Ain't that the truth. That Twitter thread just reminded me that we have some real shit for people in both, our student and alumni base. What a bunch of stupid people.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Historian

For reference here are referendum results for fees since 1992.

In 1992 - "Centennial Plaza Plan" fee passed with 88% voting for the fee (1,201 to 162)

In 2002 - "20 for 20" passed with 82% voting for the fee. (1,218 to 268)

In 2004 - "Get More" passed with 70% voting for the fee.

In 2006 - "20 for 20" renewal passed with 87% voting for the fee.

In 2007 - "Change for Change" passed with 85% voting for the fee.

In 2012 - "Enhancement" passed with 84% voting for the fee.

Also, I was told the student fee vote prior to the Centennial Plaza vote was for the Lambright Center in the late 70s, which was the only student fee vote in the 70s. I don't have the numbers, but was told it easily passed.

Every generation of Tech students in the past 50 years has voted "yes" to well-thought out and meaningful fee increases. Let's see if this group of Tech students does its part in moving the university forward.

---

Excellent post.

Four more hours until the polls close.

Has the election been fortified?

The fee did not pass

Unfortunately there is very little pride for any university not names LSU in this state.

The students at every other university including Tech are only there because they couldn’t get into LSU.

Gone are the days of ever loyal be.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by revf

Gone are the days of ever loyal be.

---

That has always been such a lame slogan.

Normally the student body only has around 1250 or so voters.

This time they were over 3K with approximately 1500 or so only voting no on the proposal and not voting on anything else at all.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PawDawg

That has always been such a lame slogan.

Normally the student body only has around 1250 or so voters.

This time they were over 3K with approximately 1500 or so only voting no on the proposal and not voting on anything else at all.

---

Sounds like there was a ground swell of opposition to this. I’m curious how much energy was put into selling it. I saw a single Twitter post about the breakdown of distribution which in my mind made it look like we were just incorporating relatively small amounts for various other organizations in sn attempt to bribe votes. Any other efforts to sell this?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by THEarmada

Any other efforts to sell this?

---

As you know, social media and disinformation dominate the minds of and actions of the sheeple who are told they are being screwed by "the man".

Each and every organization was spoken to and notified of the importance of this issue. The notifications from LaTech leaders (outside of SGA members) was not there.

Obviously the majority of students (including the athletes) just don't care. The "ground swell" of sheeple students who were more worried about $150 per quarter, which is now about two gas fill ups in the $40K automobile mom and dad provide for them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PawDawg

The notifications from LaTech leaders (outside of SGA members) was not there.

---

Staff LaTech leaders or student LaTech leaders?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by THEarmada

Staff LaTech leaders or student LaTech leaders?

---

Staff...as in coaches, AD, etc..

SGA = student leaders who did all they could do to make this pass.

[QUOTE=faninmonroe;1829958]The fees don't materially change anything in ou

Well you got your wish. What are your suggestions for "real change"?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by techman05

I don’t know who you guys are referring to. I had 1 history class at Tech. We referred to our prof as Caesar. He was weird, but I don’t remember him being vocal about things on campus.

---

Must be Voldomort since everyone is afraid to say his name

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PawDawg

That has always been such a lame slogan.

Normally the student body only has around 1250 or so voters.

This time they were over 3K with approximately 1500 or so only voting no on the proposal and not voting on anything else at all.

---

Small minded students. This election result makes me realize I might be financially supporting a sinking ship, and I have to seriously consider redirecting my support in the future. I believe this is the only school fee in the history of LA Tech to EVER get voted down. And sadly it was the one we --and the students-- needed the most.

This is a great example that PROVES that LA Tech is recruiting the WRONG kind of students. They are obviously not forward thinking people. LA Tech has got to get away from recruiting so many free riding "TOPS" students, most who don't have the money to pay their own way and who don't have enough education/knowledge to appreciate what the school is trying to do in NCAA sports. It's very clear that most of our students had no clue why the contents of this ballot was good for LA Tech, north Louisiana, the City of Ruston area and THEM!

My message to LA Tech: Please start recruiting BETTER STUDENTS, who care about something besides themselves. Your school's future is literally at stake. That's not hyperbole. We need Tech students who understand the BIG PICTURE. Otherwise, the school itself will end up --if it hasn't already-- being irreparably damaged in the long term, as the "QUALITY of STUDENT" at Tech continues to erode and deteriorate on campus. Make no mistake, this was a very bad decision by the students, and it will definitely hurt LA Tech athletics --and the value of our college degree-- long term. And it likely came about because the students had a petty grievance against the fraternities, which for some unknown reason was on the same ballot to receive funds to pay someone to manage the Greek fraternity and sorority councils in the future. It was a real bad call for the SGA to put that initiative on the same ballot as the athletics funding request when we have so many Tech students who apparently can't walk and chew gum at the same time.

If these current LA Tech students want LA Tech to be just another small fry little school like Ouachita Baptist, Nicholls St, Northwestern St or Henderson State, please cut off their free ride "TOPS scholarships" today and tell those folks to pack up their stuff and move on to one of those little schools that don't care. Louisiana Tech is already being left behind by 8 of its' CUSA peer institutions in the new AAC conference. LA Tech wasn't invited. Those 8 schools --because they were better prepared and had much larger athletic budgets than Tech-- will now make millions more in conference revenue EACH YEAR than LA Tech will, simply by being members of the AAC. That's what LA Tech missed out on. This vote was a chance to try to assuage some of that damage from getting passed over for AAC membership back in October 2021, by getting LA Tech's athletic budgets hiked up to more acceptable levels, and possible reconsideration in the future. That's a big deal. And it's a shame the students and their misguided faculty leaders didn't understand this.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HogDawg

Small minded students. This election result makes me realize I might be financially supporting a sinking ship, and I have to seriously consider redirecting my support in the future. I believe this is the only school fee in the history of LA Tech to EVER get voted down. And sadly it was the one we --and the students-- needed the most.

This is a great example that PROVES that LA Tech is recruiting the WRONG kind of students. They are obviously not forward thinking people. LA Tech has got to get away from recruiting so many free riding "TOPS" students, most who don't have the money to pay their own way and who don't have enough education/knowledge to appreciate what the school is trying to do in NCAA sports. It's very clear that most of our students had no clue why the contents of this ballot was good for LA Tech, north Louisiana, the City of Ruston area and THEM!

My message to LA Tech: Please start recruiting BETTER STUDENTS, who care about something besides themselves. Your school's future is literally at stake. That's not hyperbole. We need Tech students who understand the BIG PICTURE. Otherwise, the school itself will end up --if it hasn't already-- being irreparably damaged in the long term, as the "QUALITY of STUDENT" at Tech continues to erode and deteriorate on campus. Make no mistake, this was a very bad decision by the students, and it will definitely hurt LA Tech athletics --and the value of our college degree-- long term. And it likely came about because the students had a petty grievance against the fraternities, which for some unknown reason was on the same ballot to receive funds to pay someone to manage the Greek fraternity and sorority councils in the future. It was a real bad call for the SGA to put that initiative on the same ballot as the athletics funding request when we have so many Tech students who apparently can't walk and chew gum at the same time.

If these current LA Tech students want LA Tech to be just another small fry little school like Ouachita Baptist, Nicholls St, Northwestern St or Henderson State, please cut off their free ride "TOPS scholarships" today and tell those folks to pack up their stuff and move on to one of those little schools that don't care. Louisiana Tech is already being left behind by 8 of its' CUSA peer institutions in the new AAC conference. LA Tech wasn't invited. Those 8 schools --because they were better prepared and had much larger athletic budgets than Tech-- will now make millions more in conference revenue EACH YEAR than LA Tech will, simply by being members of the AAC. That's what LA Tech missed out on. This vote was a chance to try to assuage some of that damage from getting passed over for AAC membership back in October 2021, by getting LA Tech's athletic budgets hiked up to more acceptable levels, and possible reconsideration in the future. That's a big deal. And it's a shame the students and their misguided faculty leaders didn't understand this.

---

Great post HD. I’m done with the BS leaders who think Judy, Learfield, Aramark, and Joe Biden are our best options. Good grief we live among and trust some weak minded, “elite” thinkers.

Y'all know as well as I do that we have a better chance of opening a campus on the moon than we do of tightening up admissions

Just my opinion, and I’m assuming this is how student fees have been structured and passed for decades now, but it felt as if we were trying to buy votes by piggy-backing unrelated organization onto an athletics fee. And it sounds like it may have backfired…I’m curious to hear more about the fraternity opposition.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by THEarmada

Just my opinion, and I’m assuming this is how student fees have been structured and passed for decades now, but it felt as if we were trying to buy votes by piggy-backing unrelated organization onto an athletics fee. And it sounds like it may have backfired…I’m curious to hear more about the fraternity opposition.

---

No, it was mainly academia. Most of who, hate sports and/or anything not tied to their indoctrination agenda . Blaming the other things on the ballot is a cop out.

Correct PawDawg. Still "mulling this disaster" over...but this "same academia" is very likely going to keep me from doubling my gift this year in ACADEMICS(my school within Tech, though admittedly my department were not the ones leading the attack)...not to mention the athletic side..and, please, no lectures on "you don"t get your way and you want to take your toys and go home" thingie...I have made my contacts aware for the last 6-7 months that my consideration of "increasing" would be when I saw the University AND students totally buy in...well. it didn't happen, not even close...so, just like in anything you support, sometimes you have to 'reassess"....I am doing so...

I’m going to ask a simple question when CAB calls now -

Did you encourage your staff to support the student fee proposal in the spring of 22?

Same with General academic giving -

This cuts both ways

Let your displeasure be known

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden

I’m going to ask a simple question when CAB calls now -

Did you encourage your staff to support the student fee proposal in the spring of 22?

Same with General academic giving -

This cuts both ways

Let your displeasure be known

---

I'll post more about the past few days later tonight or tomorrow, when I'm in front of a PC. But there were a lot of negative comments from our faculty, both on and off campus about the proposal over the past few months.

I'd like to hear that Historian...

Back to HD’s comment. I hope my kids get TOPS because that means I can give more to the university. But, I care about all aspects of Tech, not just the class I teach.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Historian

I'll post more about the past few days later tonight or tomorrow, when I'm in front of a PC. But there were a lot of negative comments from our faculty, both on and off campus about the proposal over the past few months.

---

I get that some may have personal reservations about it, but ...

What dog did they have in that fight? The proposed fees' effects on faculty members would have been indirect at most, if not negligible.

There's a segment of the student population who thinks it's cool to bash Tech about everything. They don't plug into anything and some try to identify with "big time" universities and legitimize themselves by disparaging Tech. It's the same thing that you see in many Tech alum.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by boxerdog

There's a segment of the student population who thinks it's cool to bash Tech about everything. They don't plug into anything and some try to identify with "big time" universities and legitimize themselves by disparaging Tech. It's the same thing that you see in many Tech alum.

---

This too, but these usually don't vote. This time many of them did, but only against the proposal.

Again, for the LOVE of GOD, PLEASE RECRUIT BETTER STUDENTS.

I'd rather see Tech recruit and admit 6K GREAT students who care about everything at LA Tech long term, rather than to recruit 12K commonplace, boilerplate and unexceptional students who care about nothing but themselves and the first ticket out of town. Louisiana Tech can't afford to have a student body full of freaking narcissists who care about nothing but themselves. For the most part, LA Tech (thru Tops) and the state of Louisiana is already paying the way for most of these little pricks to attend school in Ruston anyway, so why not RECRUIT THE BEST? Why not recruit people that you strongly believe will love and care for the university long term? After reading some of the stupid things said on Twitter by some of our own Tech students, there's no way in hell some of those people could have gotten by me in an admissions interview. As the old saying goes, it ain't "Rocket Surgery". Start sending MANY of these a-holes to NSU and ULM.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HogDawg

Again, for the LOVE of GOD, PLEASE RECRUIT BETTER STUDENTS.

I'd rather see Tech recruit and admit 6K GREAT students who care about everything at LA Tech long term, rather than to recruit 12K commonplace, boilerplate and unexceptional students who care about nothing but themselves and the first ticket out of town. Louisiana Tech can't afford to have a student body full of freaking narcissists who care about nothing but themselves. For the most part, LA Tech (thru Tops) and the state of Louisiana is already paying the way for most of these little pricks to attend school in Ruston anyway, so why not RECRUIT THE BEST? Why not recruit people that you strongly believe will love and care for the university long term? After reading some of the stupid things said on Twitter by some of our own Tech students, there's no way in hell some of those people could have gotten by me in an admissions interview. As the old saying goes, it ain't "Rocket Surgery". Start sending MANY of these a-holes to NSU and ULM.

---

So, please define a great student vs. an unexceptional one. One could say that a top quality educational institution would inspire students to achieve great things and give back to their university and community.

I know a great many Tech grads who are extremely exceptional people and very successful in their fields who would never dream of sending a dollar to Tech. It all comes down to how you engage the students and make every aspect of campus life something they want to be involved in. Right now, I don’t want to go to a Tech football game because they have been boring for 9 years. Everything about them is blah. I can understand students finding ANYTHING else to do on game day. Nothing about Tech screams “the place to be AFTER class”. That is what I gather from the students am around every week.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by techman05

I know a great many Tech grads who are extremely exceptional people and very successful in their fields who would never dream of sending a dollar to Tech. It all comes down to how you engage the students and make every aspect of campus life something they want to be involved in. Right now, I don’t want to go to a Tech football game because they have been boring for 9 years. Everything about them is blah. I can understand students finding ANYTHING else to do on game day. Nothing about Tech screams “the place to be AFTER class”. That is what I gather from the students am around every week.

---

Good post. So how does Tech engage more students to give back? It’s not a one size fits all recipe. The game day experience in football is terrible, basketball hasn’t been to the dance in a long while, the bowling team with little funding is producing results. The give more money and things will improve, is the same thing as saying if you paid me more I would do a better job…

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eagle2180

Good post. So how does Tech engage more students to give back? It’s not a one size fits all recipe. The game day experience in football is terrible, basketball hasn’t been to the dance in a long while, the bowling team with little funding is producing results. The give more money and things will improve, is the same thing as saying if you paid me more I would do a better job…

---

Not being snarky, but if I knew the answer to engaging and keeping 2-3,000 graduates per year engaged over the long term, I wouldn’t be appraising houses. It’s difficult, but we have to be willing to pay good money to someone who knows how to do it.

This failure goes directly to the feet of the administration.....both the university as a whole and the athletic administration. The school admin has poisoned the well for making game-time fun for students, and they still don't engage alumni as they should. Epic failure IMO.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by techman05

I know a great many Tech grads who are extremely exceptional people and very successful in their fields who would never dream of sending a dollar to Tech. It all comes down to how you engage the students and make every aspect of campus life something they want to be involved in. Right now, I don’t want to go to a Tech football game because they have been boring for 9 years. Everything about them is blah. I can understand students finding ANYTHING else to do on game day. Nothing about Tech screams “the place to be AFTER class”. That is what I gather from the students am around every week.

---

The first part of this quote really caught my eye = "...very successful in their fields who would never dream of sending a dollar to Tech". I just returned from visiting a Tech grad friend of mine. He was a good friend, only child, both parents passed, and basically didn't have a place to leave his $$$ (mid 60s). During one of our conversations as we were recounting old times, he said that he has willed his estate to Tech once he dies. I told him that we had thought about setting up a scholarship within our major and his response floored me. He said that Tech was NOT interested in that type of scholarship at all. Basically, all they were interested in was $$$ to the general scholarship fund. He had conversations about setting up scholarships within our major and there was no interest from Tech on that at all. They didn't even want to talk about it. All they wanted was the $$ to go to the general scholarship fund. He got the impression that if he wasn't going to will it to the general scholarship fund, then they weren't interested. This would have been within one of the majors within the Engineering program. Oh well............

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jycww

The first part of this quote really caught my eye = "...very successful in their fields who would never dream of sending a dollar to Tech". I just returned from visiting a Tech grad friend of mine. He was a good friend, only child, both parents passed, and basically didn't have a place to leave his $$$ (mid 60s). During one of our conversations as we were recounting old times, he said that he has willed his estate to Tech once he dies. I told him that we had thought about setting up a scholarship within our major and his response floored me. He said that Tech was NOT interested in that type of scholarship at all. Basically, all they were interested in was $$$ to the general scholarship fund. He had conversations about setting up scholarships within our major and there was no interest from Tech on that at all. They didn't even want to talk about it. All they wanted was the $$ to go to the general scholarship fund. He got the impression that if he wasn't going to will it to the general scholarship fund, then they weren't interested. This would have been within one of the majors within the Engineering program. Oh well............

---

No one works harder to turn down money than Tech, never seen anything like it

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jycww

The first part of this quote really caught my eye = "...very successful in their fields who would never dream of sending a dollar to Tech". I just returned from visiting a Tech grad friend of mine. He was a good friend, only child, both parents passed, and basically didn't have a place to leave his $$$ (mid 60s). During one of our conversations as we were recounting old times, he said that he has willed his estate to Tech once he dies. I told him that we had thought about setting up a scholarship within our major and his response floored me. He said that Tech was NOT interested in that type of scholarship at all. Basically, all they were interested in was $$$ to the general scholarship fund. He had conversations about setting up scholarships within our major and there was no interest from Tech on that at all. They didn't even want to talk about it. All they wanted was the $$ to go to the general scholarship fund. He got the impression that if he wasn't going to will it to the general scholarship fund, then they weren't interested. This would have been within one of the majors within the Engineering program. Oh well............

---

That is the other side of the coin for sure. And maybe that’s part of what turns off some of my acquaintances. If I can’t give money the way I want, then maybe I shouldn’t give it. I understand that.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by techman05

Not being snarky, but if I knew the answer to engaging and keeping 2-3,000 graduates per year engaged over the long term, I wouldn’t be appraising houses. It’s difficult, but we have to be willing to pay good money to someone who knows how to do it.

---

It will take a team, one person can’t do it. We need home appraisers, engineers,teachers, ag business, forestry students to make it successful. It amazes me that a school of higher learning is not open or receptive to new/different viewpoints.

Was Les Guice actively advocating for this?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by eagle2180

It will take a team, one person can’t do it. We need home appraisers, engineers,teachers, ag business, forestry students to make it successful. It amazes me that a school of higher learning is not open or receptive to new/different viewpoints.

---

I agree it takes a team to brainstorm and implement good ideas. Are we willing to pay the $45-50,000 starting salary per position for the 3-4 person team it will take to get anyone even halfway committed to doing the job?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by THEarmada

Was Les Guice actively advocating for this?

---

Yes

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by techman05

Are we willing to pay the $45-50,000 starting salary per position for the 3-4 person team it will take to get anyone even halfway committed to doing the job?

---

No

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Amos Moses

This failure goes directly to the feet of the administration.....both the university as a whole and the athletic administration. The school admin has poisoned the well for making game-time fun for students, and they still don't engage alumni as they should. Epic failure IMO.

---

And for the most part never have. What effort has gone into it over the years has been uneven and shaky at best.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jycww

The first part of this quote really caught my eye = "...very successful in their fields who would never dream of sending a dollar to Tech". I just returned from visiting a Tech grad friend of mine. He was a good friend, only child, both parents passed, and basically didn't have a place to leave his $$$ (mid 60s). During one of our conversations as we were recounting old times, he said that he has willed his estate to Tech once he dies. I told him that we had thought about setting up a scholarship within our major and his response floored me. He said that Tech was NOT interested in that type of scholarship at all. Basically, all they were interested in was $$$ to the general scholarship fund. He had conversations about setting up scholarships within our major and there was no interest from Tech on that at all. They didn't even want to talk about it. All they wanted was the $$ to go to the general scholarship fund. He got the impression that if he wasn't going to will it to the general scholarship fund, then they weren't interested. This would have been within one of the majors within the Engineering program. Oh well............

---

Music profs always told Mrs. Champ & I to donate a piano if we ever wanted to give back to the School of Performing Arts. They said they'd never actually see any cash donated to the program.

You know how the “elite thinkers” thought it was a good sales technique to use LTAC as a qualifier for baseball season tix (price gouging)? They’re planning to do that for football and the blue chair backs. The “elite thinkers” have zero clue about the product the are peddling.

There are so many other successful universities out there that have engaged students, engaged alumni, stadiums that are filled or mostly filled, and good numbers in their athletic foundations. You would think we could just copy the bits and pieces that would apply/work for us. There doesn't need to be any reinvention of the wheel. Then there is Tech, we actually seem to strive to make things harder on our students to be engaged and harder on our alumni, especially those outside of an hours drive. We seem to not want a full stadium, etc.

I can't even defend my alma mater anymore most of the time, it's just dumbfounding.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DallasDog

There are so many other successful universities out there that have engaged students, engaged alumni, stadiums that are filled or mostly filled, and good numbers in their athletic foundations. You would think we could just copy the bits and pieces that would apply/work for us. There doesn't need to be any reinvention of the wheel. Then there is Tech, we actually seem to strive to make things harder on our students to be engaged and harder on our alumni, especially those outside of an hours drive. We seem to not want a full stadium, etc.

I can't even defend my alma mater anymore most of the time, it's just dumbfounding.

---

My oldest son quoted me (and so many others he's heard) the other day after I told him about this..."dang, it's hard work being a Tech fan." :laugh:

I'm like, "yeah son...it's not for the faint of heart, that's for sure. This is why we have NO bandwagon fans..."

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ChuckK3

My oldest son quoted me (and so many others he's heard) the other day after I told him about this..."dang, it's hard work being a Tech fan." :laugh:

I'm like, "yeah son...it's not for the faint of heart, that's for sure. This is why we have NO bandwagon fans..."

---

You have to want it no doubt, and they make it harder every year to want it.

The older you get you just realize that something you want to do or spend/time money on, shouldn't be the fight or stress Tech is 90% of the time. It used to be, my wife and I scheduled around Tech, lately it has become if Tech happens to fit then they are an option. That's sad because on her side we have 5-6 Tech grads going back to the 60's and on my side 7 going back to the 20's and my niece starts in September to hopefully make 8. We all used to make a point to go to football and tailgate etc. That doesn't happen anymore.

The post mentioned above where Tech didn't want his estate unless it was on their terms makes me so F'ing mad, I just cant comprehend why we are like that.

I know of a specific scholarship for students in animal science. Memorial scholarship. Why is that one okay?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by techman05

I know of a specific scholarship for students in animal science. Memorial scholarship. Why is that one okay?

---

Because that one was probably needed to help meet some criteria or need they had, their terms so it was fine. Hell, it could have all been dependent on who woke up on what side of the bed that day, but that is the problem, no set system or defined guidelines.

If I was working for Tech in alumni relations and you wanted to give money my only questions would be how do want to set it up and how much would you like to give. Then I would continue to reach out a couple of times a year with a thank you card/phone call, and an update on students that benefited for the scholarship or how that endowed chair is helping your college succeed. I would invite you to events hosted by the university or the college that is benefitting from your generosity, and if you can I would personally thank you and shake your hand.

Treat them right they will continue to give, usually without pressure. Instead we hit the same people up over and over and try and squeeze blood from a turnip instead of generate new donors and revenue.

If only anyone else had such a common sense approach to “customer” relations. It’s like you know how you would like to be treated if it was your half million being given to the school. Crazy that no one currently being paid by Tech can do the same.

It all starts at the top. But it's evident at many levels, I dare say at EVERY level. I used to have a scholarship at Tech but switched it to NSU where they were absolutely thrilled to get it, well, ARE still thrilled! I tried to set up some kind of cooperative endeavor with the Engineering School with GlobalSplash, Inc. but it was like convincing Iran to open a bar-be-cue PORK cafe. Of course, it was all in the talk-stage, no obligations, yet it was so frustrating just to get someone to return calls, and they would never agree to a meeting...too much trouble. I gave up.

I actually kind of hope Tech athletics are about to enter a "dark time" with the programs losing so I can wean myself off this addiction...I know that is terrible. But I can't walk away on my own, would help to be pushed away. Would be so much easier to actually NOT CARE anymore. :(

We are quickly approaching a time in life where it won’t make sense for us to have any tickets to any sports. Kids sports, dance practice, church, Saturday fishing tournaments and practice fishing during the week, and not to mention loads of homework. I made a couple of football and basketball games this year and have seen 1 baseball game. Hopefully, by the time this season of life is over, we will have a compelling product that I want to reinvest in.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by techman05

We are quickly approaching a time in life where it won’t make sense for us to have any tickets to any sports. Kids sports, dance practice, church, Saturday fishing tournaments and practice fishing during the week, and not to mention loads of homework. I made a couple of football and basketball games this year and have seen 1 baseball game. Hopefully, by the time this season of life is over, we will have a compelling product that I want to reinvest in.

---

There was a time that we put Tech events at the top of our list for family entertainment. Twenty years later, We enjoy baseball and we'll try football again (if tailgating is not messed up) since Holtz is finally gone.

I'll probably never watch another MBB game, even on TV.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DallasDog

Because that one was probably needed to help meet some criteria or need they had, their terms so it was fine. Hell, it could have all been dependent on who woke up on what side of the bed that day, but that is the problem, no set system or defined guidelines.

If I was working for Tech in alumni relations and you wanted to give money my only questions would be how do want to set it up and how much would you like to give. Then I would continue to reach out a couple of times a year with a thank you card/phone call, and an update on students that benefited for the scholarship or how that endowed chair is helping your college succeed. I would invite you to events hosted by the university or the college that is benefitting from your generosity, and if you can I would personally thank you and shake your hand.

Treat them right they will continue to give, usually without pressure. Instead we hit the same people up over and over and try and squeeze blood from a turnip instead of generate new donors and revenue.

---

Sounds like Guice hasn't changed much from the previous administration when the infamous "Do not call" list was in place during Reneau's term as president. That list was reserved only for specific projects that he wanted to fund, and supposedly no one else in the university was allowed to solicit that group.

Everything in the quoted post is the right (and only) way to treat donors. If a donor wants to set up a scholarship, it is the university's job to facilitate getting that done the way the donor wants.