This semester’s almost over, folks. If you’re like me, this is the final run for you. After this last couple of weeks, we’ll have finished our bachelor’s degrees.
This, of course, means we’ll have to sit through a series of speeches at a myriad of different ceremonies in the next several weeks.
I’m not bothered by this, but rather something else behind these scripted events. After attending several of these through the last year, I’ve noticed a different kind of recycling going on around here: the regurgitation of the same, tired words over and over again.
I’ve heard one of our beloved administrators administer the same speech at least three times in a period of about six months. While they’re busy promoting buzz words like “holistic” and “diversity learning,” they’re really not inspiring, motivating or even entertaining anyone but themselves.
Most of the content for these vitriolic addresses comes straight out of the IUS Core Values, Mission and Vision statements.
And even though these pieces were written about a year ago, it’s still important to put them into a perspective outside of the words themselves.
I take that back, let’s talk about words.
Thousands of dollars were spent to develop a total of 495 words, which serve little purpose outside of giving the corporate world warm and fuzzy feelings about what IU Southeast might be doing.
Seriously? Thousands? I’m clearly in the wrong business. Where can I sign up to write feel-good, generic nonsense about colleges?
Even outside of the context of carbon-copy speeches, this string of corporate-style jargon doesn’t mean anything to the people the administration has the most responsibility over: the students.
Posters with the core values can be seen a few places around campus, each proudly blaring our “Nurturing Environment, Holistic Learning, Integrity and Connectedness.” Each value is accompanied by a picture of someone in a different role on campus with a quote they may or may not have actually said.
Mostly, these posters go unnoticed by students and everyone else. Even when they’re pointed out on university tours, I’m sure they get a big yawn, even from the philanthropists in suits coming in to talk about generous donations.
Mission statements, core values and ideas about where the university is headed don’t matter unless there’s some kind of substance to back up those words.
Instead of advertising uninspired slogans, the university’s time and money would be better spent shining the spotlight on the accomplishments of its students, faculty and graduates. Their work is what really makes for a strong testament to what kind of influence this school has on Kentuckiana and communities abroad.
As for the grads to be, let’s cheer every time we hear the core values recited at commencement. It’ll be fun.
Jerod Clapp
Senior Editor
jlclapp@ius.edu
