Real State of the University

[MattEE]

Hello All,

I understand by the posts here that last night DR gave a state of the university speech. It sounds like all the alumni really enjoyed the evening. Great, now let me just give you one students opinion of the state of TECH. TECH is strong. Stronger than when I started back in the Fall of 2001. And in the work world it is even stronger. What I mean to say is that I am an intern at Entergy's System Operations Center in Pine Bluff, AR. The engineering and operations staff is overwhemingly filled with TECH students or graduates. There are 12 full time TECH alums here and 4 from LSU and 3 from Mississippi State. In other words those who control the lights for LA, MS, AR, and south east Texas are pretty much all from our school. The TECH folks are universally respected by their peers and the management. My point in saying all this is that often we get down on ourselves on this board way too quickly. Yeah athletics was very disappointing last year. And I hope it gets better. Yes I do go to the games and try to bring my family. My brother who is 13 already knows where he is going and it's Blue and Red so take a guess. Let's get behind our programs and our school. I know most all of us here are. Let's unite to demand change where it needs to be. But let's take heart in what a gift TECH is. It really is 110 years of a Tradition in Excellence! I have never met a broke alumnus or a rude alumnus the one's I have met are great. Well that's all I got. I just want yall to know there are still some true TECH folks out here. Hope to see yall at Nevada! Please lemme know what you think.

Matthew Bellott
Student Intern Transmission Security
Entergy SOC

[TulsaDawg]

Good post Matt. I have a son (and a future daughter-in-law) going to Tech right now. They like it. I thnk DR is doing a good job on the academic side. I'm not so sure about the athletic side, but we all know what is most important.
Good luck to you.

[Dawgbitten]

Matt, Do any of those other 12 graduates ever make the games?

[Easydawg]

Matt
Excellent post

[Rooster]

Matt, Do any of those other 12 graduates ever make the games?

Or give to CHAMPS?

[Rockett]

Or give to CHAMPS?

When I read the original post, I said to myself, "self, this is a very positive and uplifting post. How can anyone say anything negative about this?" ......

What if they don't come to the games or give to Champs? It would be nice if they did, but we see Tech graduates being successful out in the business world. Believe it or not, that is the major mission of the University - to create successful graduates. The rest is just gravy.

[MattEE]

Yeah, some do come and give to champs. Look all I meant was that TECH is a great university and its graduates need to realize this fact. But in the end the reason I posted this was to show that despite the foul ups in Reneau's office and Bicknell's failure last year. We are still a very well respected university. In light of this I think academically and athletically the only place we can go is up.

[Rooster]

When I read the original post, I said to myself, "self, this is a very positive and uplifting post. How can anyone say anything negative about this?" ......

What if they don't come to the games or give to Champs? It would be nice if they did, but we see Tech graduates being successful out in the business world. Believe it or not, that is the major mission of the University - to create successful graduates. The rest is just gravy.

Gaylord, I mean Rockett,

You are so clueless! Was that negative? A simple question as in do they give to CHAMPS? How is that negative? Only a negative person could read negativity into that. The day that I stop recruiting Tech alumni to come to meetings or ask that they give to CHAMPS b/c they have been an alumni for 10 plus years and have NO freakin clue what CHAMPS is, then and only then will I quit asking people if they give to CHAMPS. When they become successful, partly due to the accomplishment of their Tech diploma, we start asking for the gravy. We do a crappy job of asking for money. So many people would give if they knew how. You and Mike Hollis need to put together a campaign and ask for money from the Greek system alumni.

[Dawgbitten]

Thanks for that response Rooster.

[glm47]

When I read the original post, I said to myself, "self, this is a very positive and uplifting post. How can anyone say anything negative about this?" ......

What if they don't come to the games or give to Champs? It would be nice if they did, but we see Tech graduates being successful out in the business world. Believe it or not, that is the major mission of the University - to create successful graduates. The rest is just gravy.

There was nothing negative about that post. Believe it or not most schools "expect" their alumni to give back to the university.

I recently attended graduation at the University of Arkansas school of business. And the graduates were encouraged to stay in touch with the school and to give back in the form of donations. They are in much better shape than Tech but still don't have any problem asking for money.

They also give each graduate a year's free membership in the Alumni Association. Does Tech offer that?

[StrayDawg]

Gaylord, I mean Rockett,

You are so clueless! Was that negative? A simple question as in do they give to CHAMPS? How is that negative? Only a negative person could read negativity into that. The day that I stop recruiting Tech alumni to come to meetings or ask that they give to CHAMPS b/c they have been an alumni for 10 plus years and have NO freakin clue what CHAMPS is, then and only then will I quit asking people if they give to CHAMPS. When they become successful, partly due to the accomplishment of their Tech diploma, we start asking for the gravy. We do a crappy job of asking for money. So many people would give if they knew how. You and Mike Hollis need to put together a campaign and ask for money from the Greek system alumni.

Mike Hollis has been gone from Tech for many years, thank goodness. A lady named Dee Dee Anderson is in charge now. I'm not sure what sort of alumni campaign they try to promote (probably not one), but she is definitely a step up from Hollis.

Student Life is an area where Tech has failed miserably in my opinion for many years. They do things pretty well on paper, but I know a LOT of students who have left Ruston vowing never to return. Hopefully that tide is changing, but I don't know. Unhappy students now means no support from young alumni in a few years. That makes Mr. Oakes' job much harder when it comes to selling tickets to that crowd.

Keeny Hall could stand several more changes, but a few changes have been made over the last few years that might improve things quite a bit.

[Rooster]

Mike Hollis has been gone from Tech for many years, thank goodness. A lady named Dee Dee Anderson is in charge now. I'm not sure what sort of alumni campaign they try to promote (probably not one), but she is definitely a step up from Hollis.

Student Life is an area where Tech has failed miserably in my opinion for many years. They do things pretty well on paper, but I know a LOT of students who have left Ruston vowing never to return. Hopefully that tide is changing, but I don't know. Unhappy students now means no support from young alumni in a few years. That makes Mr. Oakes' job much harder when it comes to selling tickets to that crowd.

Keeny Hall could stand several more changes, but a few changes have been made over the last few years that might improve things quite a bit.

Mike Hollis is disgusting.

[Rockett]

Gaylord, I mean Rockett,

You are so clueless! Was that negative? A simple question as in do they give to CHAMPS? How is that negative? Only a negative person could read negativity into that. The day that I stop recruiting Tech alumni to come to meetings or ask that they give to CHAMPS b/c they have been an alumni for 10 plus years and have NO freakin clue what CHAMPS is, then and only then will I quit asking people if they give to CHAMPS. When they become successful, partly due to the accomplishment of their Tech diploma, we start asking for the gravy. We do a crappy job of asking for money. So many people would give if they knew how. You and Mike Hollis need to put together a campaign and ask for money from the Greek system alumni.

Mike Hollis has not been at Tech for about the last seven years.

[Rockett]

Mike Hollis has been gone from Tech for many years, thank goodness. A lady named Dee Dee Anderson is in charge now. I'm not sure what sort of alumni campaign they try to promote (probably not one), but she is definitely a step up from Hollis.

Student Life is an area where Tech has failed miserably in my opinion for many years. They do things pretty well on paper, but I know a LOT of students who have left Ruston vowing never to return. Hopefully that tide is changing, but I don't know. Unhappy students now means no support from young alumni in a few years. That makes Mr. Oakes' job much harder when it comes to selling tickets to that crowd.

Keeny Hall could stand several more changes, but a few changes have been made over the last few years that might improve things quite a bit.

How about some specifics??

[Rooster]

Mike Hollis has not been at Tech for about the last seven years.

I'm aware of that, I was being sarcastic b/c he was a thorn in the side of the Greek system while he was there. He is a low life, two faced, worst than the scum in my toilet joke of a man. He makes me angry.

Are you kidding about specifics? Don't get me started. Maybe Straydawg and Dawgbitten can elaborate b/c I don't want to use profanity.