|
Questions and Comments We've Received June 17, 2003 As a member of the Advisory Board of the Shakespeare Festival at Tulane, I can attest to President Scott Cowen's dedication to increasing enrollment of Lousiana students at Tulane. His support for our educational outreach programs, which now reach schools in thirteen parishes and which will begin statewide touring in the fall, is motivated by that dedication to get Tulane's message out to every student in our state. I attended a dinner in the fall of 2000 which was part of a statewide tour President Cowen instigated, a tour in which he and his team visited high schools in every part of this state sending out the message that there is financing available, that Louisiana students are not only welcome, but pursued. During his remarks at that dinner, President Cowen said that in the freshman class starting their Tulane educatin that fall, there were 243 Louisiana students, all but one on a scholarship that averaged $24,000 per year. It is interesting to note that President Cowen and Tulane are being derided for not serving Louisiana's youth when, after many years of a decliining native enrollment, under Cowen's leadership, that trend is finally being reversed. If critics believe the trend is not being reversed fast enough, perhaps they could offer their services to the recruiting office to help quicken the pace. My grandfather and a great uncle were both Tulane graduates, as was my father, and my fourth daughter. Tulane University has been important to me all of my conscious life. Now, as a member of a Board whose mission to open the world of language to every student in this state coincides with Tulane's mssion to open knowledge to every student both here and everywhere on the planet, it is even more important. I spend many volunteer hours in this cause. I suggest that those who find fault with Tulane's present recruiting methods do the same. Sincerely, ***** Thank you, President Cowen and the committee. You did the right thing. I was extremely happy to hear that Tulane was going to continue to be a Division I school. I would also like to commend President Cowen on his efforts to change the BCS. It takes a lot of guts to go up against the kind of power the BCS system has. Good luck! ***** Dear Scott: You have done a masterful job of dealing with the local press and their interference with the university athletic problem. My wife and I totally support the outcome. We know that you must feel like the LION TAMER in a three-ring circus. Your solution is the best for Tulane's students, facility, alumni and staff. Tulane should be proud that their students/athletes are among the best in the nation. They belong in Division I-A. And, they have set a high standard of performance for other universities. You have also demonstrated that intercollegiate athletics is not just about entertainment or winning. It is or, should be about producing high academic achievement as well as high athletic achievement. We are proud that Tulane University does both. We want Tulane to be the best it can be in both athletics and academics. Keep up the wonderful work. We are proud of you. ***** Thank you for putting on paper what many sports fans believe are the most serious problems in collegiate athletics. This, appropriately, comes at a time when the ACC is moving in the wrong direction by expanding (and using the SEC as a role model). I hope you have invited colleagues from Big East, ACC and SEC to join your teleconference on July. I wish you well on this most important (critical?) endeavor. ***** I want to applaud President Cowen for his efforts. This is clearly the support the Tulane Athletics Program deserves! ***** Dear President Cowen, Hallelujah! I followed your conference last week regarding Division 1-A participation, and I applaud your results. It is critically important for there to be examples of the right way to run a top-flight athletics program inside a university. I just read your article in the Sunday New York Times and am in complete agreement with your opinions. We must put the student back in student-athlete. The BCS schools and elite basketball teams must be held accountable for their shameful graduation rates and lame attempts to keep their rosters academically-eligible. You're right. We are short-changing the student-athlete and compromising our future. I don't believe we have to lower our expectations of weekend entertainment however. We can have it all. We just need to raise the bar and hold those in control, i.e coaches, deans, athletic directors, and even presidents, accountable. You seem more than willing to accept the challenge. Good luck and don't let the NCAA, the BCS and March Madness dilute the potential of this country's future. Best Regard, ***** I agree the system needs revamping, however Cowen pushing to eliminate the football program from his own university probably won't carry too much weight. I realize he would like to be a big player in this pond, but maybe he should just settle for small player. If his own university, alumni, and followers don't believe in his dedication in Tulane's sports programs, why would the NCAA, other university president's, and whoever else it may concern want to hear his imput. Studying for the medical boards is easier than trying to follow President Cowen's latest "aggressive efforts" on a daily basis. I do absolutely agree with no division IA school not being included in the BCS. Every team should have a chance and this is why the BCS should be eliminated and a 16 team play-off should be implemented. Write back and I will give you my own take on how this can work. I believe in the cause, but just find it comical President Cowen is trying to spearhead this when he seemed awfully fickle about the program in the first place. Maybe the athletic director should represent us at this possible conference. ***** I am so glad the Mr. Cowen is taking the steps to challenge his peers. I‚m also glad his opinion piece made it into the New York Times. Keep up the good work! You have my support. |