CMU’s Leadership Institute facing the axe, SSBAG response: Reduction ‘likely will occur’

Good riddens! The LAS program is a joke. As a former barnes hall resident, or as I like to call it “the tool box” because of all the LAS tool’s that lived there, nothing could’ve made my day better then to read this article.

Most LAS students I know walked around high and mighty, were know-it-alls, and hung out in their “smarty” cliques. These are the same annoying kids that send you every invite on facebook, and bother you to join every single RSO on the damn campus.

You know what sucks? Organized groups and functions. You know what else sucks? LAS. Glad to see it go! Good move CMU!

Hmmm lets see…they lead the student body, as in the last two student body presidents, sorority & fraternity presidents, homecoming amabassadors, RSO presidents, Ra’s, orientation mentors, campus amabassadors, hall council presidents…oh, but you are right, they don’t lead anything. Sounds like your anger stems from your lack of involvement and commitment to anything to do with making CMU a better campus.

It sounds like the people who have a problem are mainly ones who have a problem with an individual, not the Li as a whole. As for William obviously there is nothing anyone can say that will change your mind. Sorry if you had a rough experience with the LAS program or SAE. Not everyone in the LAS program are extremely smart either. Its because they work hard is why their grades are good, and they are committed to doing well. Sounds like you might want to give a try to working hard and maybe committing to something. You might find it gratifying. Keep in mind this article is not about either of these though, its about the Institute as a whole. So please drop your frivolous comments about the LAS program and or SAE.

and personally, as many other students on this campus, can do without “sorority & fraternity presidents, homecoming ambassadors, RSO presidents, RA’s, orientation mentors, campus amabassadors, and hall council presidents”

As they’ve never done anything but annoy me.

@ William

Just to clarify, LI students are here to do the same things you are – focus in college and get ahead so that they can be successful in life. The LI helps teach students how to do that by teaching us effective communication skills, how to lead, how to follow, and how to collaborate with others among numerous other topics. We just also find importance in being involved and making an impact on others too. We are not paying as much as we do to simply be involved in Greek Life or RSO’s. We are involved because we love to be. And yes, some of us may be “smart” but it’s not because of the program, it is the nature of the people who utilize the LI – they are intelligent individuals for taking notice of such a great program and being dedicated to such a thing. If you look at the LAS Scholarship, GPA is NOT a factor in receiving the scholarship; it is just typical that people who are dedicated to being involved also care about their grades. I feel very sorry for you that you do not see how beneficial this program is, but that is your opinion.

Let me make myself clear – I’m all for the LAS staying open, they just have to rename it to “those kids you hated in high school that are still around and must join every organization just to annoy you scholarship.” I’ll even contribute $20 to the scholarships.

also william, I’m sure you would love to meet the scholar who said that.. you both do not put anything forward and will thus receive nothing back.

I didn’t know this was a comment block for people concerned about themselves and their personal feelings about other people. William all of your comments sound like personal issues dealing with how you feel or judge people in high school and in college. This is probably not the place to talk about your problems, this article is concerned with the future of a leadership institute. We get you are not a fan, point taken.

Move on.

I am an LAS scholar and it is a big reason I chose CMU. We are the only university in the state with a Leadership Institue. The scholarship is only $8,000 over 4 years leaving most to pay approzimately $15,000 a year to cmu. The Institue is great for CMU. To the people who do not know what the LAS students do or think that you can’t learn leadership; maybe you should take a look at the protocal that if you accept the scholarship must follow. Look at who runs Leadership Safari and Up all night and other OTF and school functions are leaders trained by the Leader Advancement Scholarship or functions put on by the LI. Not to mention that LAS students are mainly housed in Barnes Hall, but it is the oldest, smallest, and has the most wear-tear on the building of all dorms.

If you cut sports, and printing and computer lab good luck trying to find recruits and prospective students. Which will be a huge lost to the student body, which will cost the university even more money. The LI is mainly run through alumni donations and not cmu’s money.

In a country with a very high unemployment rate why would we want to outsource more jobs. In a world that needs leaders, why would you want to cut programs to build and enhance their skills??

This is very unfortunate. To start off, I am not an LAS, I am just a typical freshmen. I have attended just about every program that the L.I. offers. The L.I. is amazing and has made my transition from high school to college easier! I can honestly say that the staff and programs there are extremely helpful. The L.I. could not have a better person to be the interim director, DAN GAKEN is what the makes the institute what it is!
The L.I. is a part of CMU’s overall atmosphere! That’s what made me decide to come here. Tons of students take pride in saying that Central offers a leadership minor and has an institute devoted to their leadership needs. So as a freshmen, what am I supposed to do for the next three years? The L.I. not only gives me direction but also gives other leaders the resources they need to make a difference. I hope that people understand that it’s easy to get involved with the L.I. and that the L.I. is a place for any leader to receive guidance in their leadership development. Without the L.I. students will be losing a connection to the campus.

I have just read, with dismay, Maryellen Tighe’s article in the March 1, 2010 edition of CMLife. I am extremely disappointed to hear that the elimination of or even a reduction of funding and staffing for this valuable program is being considered.

Besides being a valuable resource and curriculum for the great students at CMU, LI has provided Sturgis High School with a valuable service for the past 3 years. I know that they provide similar programs to several high schools in Michigan.

Jenell Barnard-Keller and Dan Gaken have brought numerous LI students to Sturgis High School to assist, teach and facilitate our annual Freshman Focus Orientation Camp. They have worked, in both large and small groups, with our incoming freshman to instill in them the personal qualities that we expect our students to have. Not only do the CMU LI students discuss leadership issues, but also helps our freshman understand what it takes to be a success in high school. They have used many fun and exciting group activities to reinforce their messages.

CMU’s LI students have also worked with our Leadership Development/Mentor program in order to teach our upperclassmen how to be effective leaders in the high school. These upperclassmen then work directly with our incoming freshman throughout the school year.

I am troubled that the article brings up the quality of the staff’s “offices” as a reason for downsizing or reduction in staffing. This seems rather petty.

Of concern to me also is that some people believe that cliques are a reason not to have a program. Society is full of cliques. It is part of life.

Central Michigan University’s Leadership Institute brings students to CMU. Please maintain the program as it is.

I would like to ask the moderator what the point of moderating is when they allow posts with such vulgarity on them. The posts by William that contain it need to be removed or this is not point in you reading them before posting. This is suppose to be a forum for rational discussion and comments. Also, all the posts are no longer showing…can this be fixed?

I saw Big Will wear army pants and flip flops, so I bought army pants and flip flops.

I’m going to take a different approach for my response.

I feel like there are three types of people responding to the article: 1. people who are in LAS and are offended by some of the drastic comments against the program and are appalled by the thought of it being cut from CMU’s budget. 2. People who genuinely dislike the program, either because they are not in it or they have had bad experiences with the LI. 3. And finally, people who think it is funny to say harsh things simply to get a rise out of people.

-I am none of these. I’ve lived in barnes for two years now and I am not in LAS. Honestly, most of CMU’s Campus doesn’t care at all whether or not the LI exists. I do, because after looking into what the LI does here at CMU, you cannot deny that everyone on campus has been impacted by students and most don’t know it.

But first I want to hit on some people’s attitude…

People be hatin; if your going to call a group of friends who live together, take classes together during their freshman and sophomore year of college a clique, than so be it, but really would you expect any different? You hang out with people you live by and take classes with don’t you? And to be honest, a lot of the people within the program have more friends outside of LAS than in. To all those haters out there, i simply say, stop it! (and for those who do live in barnes and still feel as tho LAS is a clique, i ask that you take some initiative and get to know everyone in the program before you judge a whole group based on a few interactions. Honestly that goes for everyone who hates on LAS)

Now on a larger scale, let me attempt put the importance of the LI into perspective for you. (Something I believe the “decision makers” should take under consideration)

For those of you who have figured out who I am, you can agree, I am kinda involved (if you don’t know me, well, i guess you’re just going to have to take my word for it. and there is a very valid reason why I’m not giving my name, please respect my wishes.), I am not in LAS, I am proof, just like many others, that you do not have to be in LAS to be successful here on campus. Ok, this is not news to anyone, LAS scholars know this, every student on campus knows the possibilities CMU offers are endless. But what we cannot deny is the opportunities, skills, connections/ networking that the LI offers its students, as well as students across campus. The positive impact that the LI has on campus is way to large to just throw away because of budget cuts. I strongly suggest that the campus “decision makers” simply spend some time analyzing the impact the LI has had on campus. Look beyond specific people, leaders and events, the impact expands through relationships, friendships, bonds, facilitating, community and so much more.

We can all agree that some people in the program would not have come to central if not for the leadership program. We can also agree that many of the well know campus “leaders” do happen to be, or have been, apart of the LI.

Try to imagine our campus without the LI and all the students it has brought to our campus. You immediately lose many student leaders throughout the years, when you take away the LI, you take away a lot of the empowering students who motivate people, like me, around them to get involved and make a difference. I personally have been empowered to achieve my success by so many LAS students, younger and older than me.

To put it simply, I view the leadership Institute as a ripple effect on our campus. I have witnessed this program light fires under students and that passion for success spreads like wildfire.

You may not be apart of LAS or even know it exists, but based on my experiences the LI has had such a positive influence on our campus, it would be detrimental to our campus to cut it from our budget, make cuts if necessary (you know there are other cuts which could be made that would have less of an impact on our student body), but do not rid the LI completely.

but thats just how i feel,

time to make like kim roberts…

peace

According to the budget website the LI is run on only $18,000 a year. Really? Is it really necessary to cut an office that runs on so little? By combining the Director’s positions and only having to pay one Director, one part-time secretary and only $18,000 S&E it seems they will have done their part to reduce the budget.

I’ve gotta say, this is probably the most action CM-Life has ever seen and I guess it’s for good reason; if you want to pick a fight with a bunch of leaders, you better be ready.

There are a couple of issues at hand:

1. People don’t understand the IMPACT of the LI (thats a pun for those that actually about the LI and know theres a program the LI puts on called “Impact”)

2. CMU needs to save money

3. People are posting negative comments on here to stir up feelings.

A little about me, my name is Dan Jackson, I’ve grown up in Mt. Pleasant my entire life, I’m a Leadership Advancement Scholar, I lived in Barnes Hall for two years, and I am a brother of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. I wasn’t originally going to comment on this article, but I feel it necessary to speak out against some ridiculous claims.

First, Lilly said it best; but in summary, LAS is a clique. If by clique you mean they like to hang out with each other because they have common goals and can trust one another; because they can help each other study for the classes they take together; because they work together to bring leadership initiatives to campus and abroad. The Leadership Institute can be related to the Minority Student Services in the fact that many LAS (being leaders) are highly involved in the LI and Multicultural Advancement Scholars (who are dedicated to the enrichment of multicultural programs). Yet no one seems to complain that the Minority Student Services office is dedicated solely to MAS students. Furthermore, why does Sigma Alpha Epsilon have anything to do with this article? Is it because they share many of the same ideals of Leadership, Integrity, Scholarship and Academics as the Leadership Institute and therefor see it fit to have a working relationship between the two programs? If so, I’m sorry.

The issue at hand should not have anything to do with LAS, but unfortunately, many of the negative comments appear to come from people who don’t understand the full spectrum of the Leadership Institute. The Leadership Institute is designed to be a hub for leadership development of all campus students who want it. Programs such as Impact, Connections, LeaderShape, Alpha Leadership, and the numerous other leadership development programs.

Did you know that the Leadership Institute puts on programs for K-12 education? Logically, this is an investment. Younger students, say K-7, are impressionable; if CMU is associated in a positive way with them, it will be more likely that they attend here for college. Older students, say 8th grade +, are starting to look for colleges. Wouldn’t it be a great idea for CMU to invest a relatively small amount of money in effort to persuade prospective students to give CMU their tuition money? You could relate this to fishing. Is it better to teach someone to fish (analogy to K-12 developmental programs) or to give them a hook and say bring me a fish (CMU sending pamphlets to people). It might be cheaper to give someone a hook, but it is more beneficial to teach someone to fish. For those of you who didnt follow it – invest in something and it will invest in you.

Think about the student leaders on this campus. What comes to your mind? The SGA Student Body President and Vice President? CM-Life editors? Gold Ambassadors? Maybe you think about the executive boards of RSOs, maybe you think about Athletics, maybe you think about the ResLife staff? The point is, there are a lot of student leaders on this campus, whether they are LAS or not, students hold a lot of leadership positions. With all of this student leadership, it makes sense to have a program set in stone that is willing to help people be confident in their leadership abilities; to develop ethical leadership skills in students.

Does the Leadership Institute cost money? Yes, but it is an investment. In today’s society, a college degree no longer guarantees you a job in life. Prospective employers are looking for what sets two people with identical degrees apart; many people would agree that there is learned more outside of the classroom than can ever be learned in it. By CMU investing in leadership development, it gives students a leg up in post college life.

Does CMU need to make budget cuts? Yes. In today’s decreased economy, unfortunately CMU cannot keep doing everything that it has in the past. However, there are many places that can be more efficiently run. I’m not going to say one program is better than the other, but the simple fact is that many CMU programs waste a lot of money. Recently, all departments had to submit reduction plans of 3, 6, and 9%. It would be interesting to see what they could live without. Would Residence Life still operate Barnes Hall, a line item that has been red for years? Would Athletics still need to buy all the athletes hordes of t-shirts? Would Residence Life still employ the Moving Crew (a job that’s sole purpose is to keep athletes employed during the summer)? Would the President still need those all those benefits? Would CMU need to spend millions of dollars on a Medical School? The point is that CMU needs to align its priorities.

Obviously, I have a biased to keep the Leadership Institute open and fully functional. However, I would like push those that have a distaste or misunderstanding of the Leadership Institute to get involved with it. Approach the LI to help put on programs for your RSO or department. I guarantee that if you invest the effort to ask the LI for help, it will invest the effort to develop leadership skills in your members.

I give credit to those that identify themselves with their real full name. If you have something to say, I urge you to have the self confidence to stand behind your words and to not hide behind the internet.

In closing, would you rather be a follower or a leader for the rest of your life?

I would not be who I am today without the Leadership Institute and the constant support from the organization. To see the possible elimination of this program breaks my heart.

The LI not only provides support and encouragement to students within the CMU community, but to so many others outside of Mount Pleasant.