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A MISSION
Ferrari beseeches all of us to do more

We have a unique opportunity, or so Chancellor Michael Ferrari said Thursday at the annual Fall Convocation address.

We have the chance to study at a university that has new and renovated buildings with high-tech equipment. We get to learn from top-rated professors. Soon, we will have a high-quality recreation center and a renewed sense of campus life.

But we’re wearing a little thin.

Despite the large amount of donations last year, our endowment — like other universities — is shrinking. In contrast, the cost of constructing new buildings and updating old ones is growing. The chancellor has asked deans to think about doing fund raising within their various schools.

While this may work in the business school with it’s jazzy building and new equipment, it may not be feasible for the smaller schools that still work out of trailers.

The chancellor has also asked to look into ways for students to increase their leadership skills and fulfill the mission statement’s goal “to educate ... ethical leaders and responsible citizens in a global community.” The chancellor called this “civic engagement.”

What this may mean is increased emphasis on leadership classes and community service. But with jobs and classes, where we may actually be learning what we need to succeed in our respective majors, it may be difficult to spread our time with more activities.

Plus, contrary to what the chancellor, our parents, or even we want to believe, we can’t all be leaders.

We have a unique opportunity to study at this university. But let’s not aim for more than we can handle.