"Love and Honor - it is a phrase that has a lot of meaning to Miami students and alumni. At its core, Love and Honor is about intellect, character and heart."
So says President David Hodge. I've always believed that President Hodge never understood the intrinsic value of Miami; even more importantly, he never knew how to leverage it. He has always tried to make MY Miami and OUR Miami into HIS Miami, instead of embracing what Days of Old had given us for Days to Be.
I attended Miami from 2007-11. I woke up many a day during my sophomore year (when the U.S. economy was in free fall) wondering if I would make it to graduation. I also watched the intellectual and architectural triumph that is the Farmer School of Business (disclaimer: I was not a business major). But despite the changing architectural landscape, and the business decisions to aid students to remain at Miami during that time period, Miami never lost sight of its true heart. "To accomplish rather than to be conspicuous." I don't feel that to be the case any longer.
Like many Miamians, I continue to stay in touch with goings-on around the Miami community. That, of course, means I skim - and I occasionally fully read - The Miami Student. Last week, the Opinion article regarding Patterson Place struck my attention. As I read the article, I couldn't help but feel a sense of loss for tearing town the former home of Western College presidents and replacing the building with more on campus housing. Because, after all, more students equals more revenue. Seems pretty conspicuous to me.
The taxation of students through "usage fees" from everything like Armstrong fees, to Farmer fees, to athletic fees, students continue to bear the weight of these business decisions. Then we have the "remodeling" of Bishop Woods - the hallowed ground that remains untouched so as to represent the natural surroundings of Miami in 1809. What about the resignation of two provosts and four deans in the last four years? People quit their managers. People quit Hodge.
Well this time we are noticing, David. Miami is a treasured place that bears resemblance to no other place on earth. At what point will we, the Miami community of students, alumni, faculty and staff, reclaim OUR Miami?
Jonathan Rogowsk
jonathanrogowski@gmail