Arkansas Blog: Alas, John, we knew ye

The Iconoclast gives a valedictory to John White, outgoing chancellor of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.

John White is done. The University of Arkansas Press survived; the University of Arkansas Museum did not. The College of Business became a training school for Wal-Mart, and the College of Education became an enabler for the Waltons' right-wing political assault on public education.

The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences has more students and fewer faculty than when White came. The College of Engineering, to which he has retired at full salary, has lots of well-paid endowed professorships and more students leaving the state and nation for employment than any other college. He borrowed record amounts of money to build more buildings than needed, and he made an offer to buy Fayetteville High School. He gave Houston Nutt millions for abusing his UA cell phone and running off franchise players. Lots of money was raised, not without strings, and he got a $10,000 desk and a $3 million mansion.

Most of us who love and value the University as an essential part of our community are glad to be shed of him. We all look forward to better days ahead under the leadership of Chancellor David Gearhart, a Fayetteville native with a good heart and more than a lick of sense.

Comments

Some one has designed a tribute to John White. It's just about finished except for the dedication.

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Posted by: eLwood | July 1, 2008 02:17 PM

Like my nation, I can't hardly recognize my old alma mater. When I was up there you got twice the education you were paying for, now the reverse is true. I know it's human nature to try to fancy everything up, but if yer average kid can't afford to go to the U of A, what good is that?

It now costs 6000+ a semester to live on campus at Fayetteville. How many Arkansas daddies got 12,000 a year to toss at a kid, no matter how good the reason is? We need about 1000 more Murphy Oil companies in this state.

Posted by: Deathbyinches | July 1, 2008 02:20 PM

"Nothing is as good as it seems and nothing is as bad as it seems." --- Lou Holtz

Posted by: durangokid | July 1, 2008 02:29 PM

Amen DBI. If the new chancellor wants more student's at UA, he's going to have to loosen the purse strings on that billion dollar endowment he's sitting on. My son had the grades and test scores to be offered the top scholarship at ASU, the presendential scholarship at UCA, and was offered a scholarship at SAU, a school he didn't even apply to. UA? Not one thin dime. As much as it costs to send a child to college today, you can't just send them to a certain school for the so called prestige. If I could afford to do that, then it wouldn't be UA. I would send my child to a truly prestigeous school, not UA Fayetteville. It's a shame a student AT-THA-LETE can score a 23 on the ACT and get a full ride and a regular student can score much better and get nothing. Where are the priorities? I guess we all know, don't we.

Posted by: gds | July 1, 2008 03:40 PM

Congrats for devoting the time to raise an outstanding son gds.

Posted by: eLwood | July 1, 2008 03:44 PM

"I would send my child to a truly prestigeous (sic) school, not UA Fayetteville."

Ditto eLwood's remarks. And I would add this, gds: I hope your son is not as condescending as you are.

Posted by: durangokid | July 1, 2008 04:28 PM

I suppose years later we develop a perspective on colleges and universities. One of my old friends attended St Louis U. and earned one of those hot MBAs back in the mid 70s. He recently retired from the U.S post office in his hometown. He was in management.
The story is true. It's only to indicate the degree program just opens a door. It's up to the individual after entering. Unless a person is really going to specialize then just about any college/Univ will serve as that necessary door opener.

Posted by: eLwood | July 1, 2008 04:49 PM

Arkansas Blog

Alas, John, we knew ye

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