Greenwich Pony wrote:And again, my point is somehow being missed by some. If we're only checking a box- a term used by some to point out that while we are moving ahead to build this thing in the center of campus building it will not help with recruiting, as a sign of commitment, etc., then we are continuing to circle the drain with this program, and this is a waste of money and space that could be used elsewhere to better ends. If we're already building a research lab great- spend it on paying top flight professors, or god forbid, build more labs. Or spend it on a real branding campaign. I'm sure academic departments and scholarship funds could use $20-$30 million.
And frankly, nobody has explained to me how this is a good use of resources or that the board or administration has a real plan regarding athletics or academics.
And I am aware TCU is doing fine. But then again, they are in a power conference playing real opponents competitively in front of reasonably large crowds, their facilities are expanding, their endowment has surpassed ours, and they seem to be a school on the rise. Good for TCU, they have worked and earned it. We are none of those things, and with our alleged resources, that is unacceptable.
Nobody is missing your point - you are just incorrect.
By the way, we are light years ahead of TCU academically and our endowment on a per student basis is quite a bit higher. Our standardized test scores have risen to a point that is second in the state only to Rice. TCU has improved, but SMU has improved as much or more.
There is always room for improvement in any institution, and SMU certainly has untapped potential. But a claim that we don't have a plan in athletics or academics, or that this building is somehow now not worth doing, is just incorrect. In athletics as has been pointed out on this board a million times, our plan is to position ourselves to be a top candidate to make the cut in the next P-5 sweepstakes. We may or may not be successful, but this building helps position us to do so.
