UCONN's Future

[HuskyHawk]

College students are so pampered and coddled now. All we got on arrival at UConn was a cinder block room, crappy furniture and if you were willing to go get it, a gallon of cheap paint. No food on weekends, no internet, no cable, no AC (but more heat than you needed and no way to adjust it).

I always viewed that as a positive, to jolt kids who had it easy with their parents into seeing a sliver of the real world. I say a sliver, because with food and shelter, you still were taken care of. Now college kids live in accommodations that are as nice or nicer than their family homes. Free gym, everything they could ever need.

As for the President, students aren't supposed to interact with them. I never did and didn't count that as a negative.

 

[John Greene]

You laugh - I once heard a notable former UConn President who shall remain nameless share the best advice he received upon taking the job, from another university president: "you will succeed if you provide football tickets for the alumni, parking for the faculty and sex for the students." True story.

When I was young, naive and convinced that the world was a perfectible place, I would marvel at the cynicism of older people who thought like this. Now that I am old (fast approaching 70)and understand that 50% of success is just showing up, I marvel at the naivete of people who don't.

 

[Durks07]

I went to a school of 1,600 students and wouldn't have known the President if I had tripped over him (and I tripped over a lot of things and people that I vaguely recognized during those 4 years). As to the UCPD, campus cops have always sucked. They have an inferiority complex because they aren't real cops.

You realize that they are in fact state troopers, right?

 

[JMick]

you can all talk about "back in my day" all you want, I'm just sharing the sentiment around campus by most students. Any time anyone says something bad about Herbst here they get attacked. Students don't like her. You can give all the reasons why they're "wrong" but it doesn't change the fact that students don't like her and that she doesn't seem to care about students. Right, wrong or indifferent, you can't change how people feel.

 

[JMick]

College students are so pampered and coddled now. All we got on arrival at UConn was a cinder block room, crappy furniture and if you were willing to go get it, a gallon of cheap paint. No food on weekends, no internet, no cable, no AC (but more heat than you needed and no way to adjust it).

I always viewed that as a positive, to jolt kids who had it easy with their parents into seeing a sliver of the real world. I say a sliver, because with food and shelter, you still were taken care of. Now college kids live in accommodations that are as nice or nicer than their family homes. Free gym, everything they could ever need.

As for the President, students aren't supposed to interact with them. I never did and didn't count that as a negative.

“The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise.” - Socrates

 

[UConn990411]

you can all talk about "back in my day" all you want, I'm just sharing the sentiment around campus by most students. Any time anyone says something bad about Herbst here they get attacked. Students don't like her. You can give all the reasons why they're "wrong" but it doesn't change the fact that students don't like her and that she doesn't seem to care about students. Right, wrong or indifferent, you can't change how people feel.

Nope. But we can tell you that your opinion will likely change after you graduate.

 

[UConn9604]

you can all talk about "back in my day" all you want, I'm just sharing the sentiment around campus by most students. Any time anyone says something bad about Herbst here they get attacked. Students don't like her. You can give all the reasons why they're "wrong" but it doesn't change the fact that students don't like her and that she doesn't seem to care about students. Right, wrong or indifferent, you can't change how people feel.

In recent history, Harry Hartley was beloved. He was a single guy, I think, and he loved horses, jogging with Jim Calhoun, and drinking at Ted's (true story). Phil Austin came in with a more professional attitude, and more experience outside of UConn than Hartley. I won't use the words "porcupine" but you had to get to know the guy to see that he had a sense of humor. Mike Hogan had that Midwestern charm but he was in and out with a flash, and I don't think he left much of an impression (except for those darn cutouts of himself that he purchased). Then Herbst came along, and she's been a bit of a bulldozer where need be, and just plain demands results.

Yet when all is said and done, history will rank those four in the order of Herbst, Austin, Hartley, Hogan, in my opinion, for their success at UConn. The extent to which the President relates to (or even interacts with) students is only a small part of their overall rating and performance. It's nice, but it's certainly not mandatory.

 

[JMick]

Nope. But we can tell you that your opinion will likely change after you graduate.

I'm 2 years removed from graduating. I was there when Herbst got there. I have friends on campus still and they still feel similarly. My thoughts on her haven't changed.

I'm not arguing her merits. I'm just saying she's unliked by students and many recent alum.

 

[UConn990411]

I'm 2 years removed from graduating. I was there when Herbst got there. I have friends on campus still and they still feel similarly. My thoughts on her haven't changed.

I'm not arguing her merits. I'm just saying she's unliked by students and many recent alum.

Not by anyone I know, but I'll agree to disagree.

 

[minidarren]

You realize that they are in fact state troopers, right?

I think if you said this to a state troopers face he would punch you in the throat and then taser your @$$. There is only one state trooper and that is the dudes who drive around in the unmarked cruisers not some college police department.

There is a reason why they are called the UCONN Police Department and not the Connecticut State Police.

 

[JMick]

I think if you said this to a state troopers face he would punch you in the throat and then taser your @$$. There is only one state trooper and that is the dudes who drive around in the unmarked cruisers not some college police department.

There is a reason why they are called the UCONN Police Department and not the Connecticut State Police.

They're a municipal police force employed by the state. They aren't "state troopers" but they're not a campus security force either. Might as well be, though, with the way they act.

 

[CL82]

Right, wrong or indifferent, you can't change how people feel.

Perhaps, but sometimes you can give them a broader perspective and how they "feel" will change on it's own.

 

[JMick]

Perhaps, but sometimes you can give them a broader perspective and how they "feel" will change on it's own.

Or she could stand up for the school and it's students instead of letting the town of Mansfield run roughshod over off-campus students and development. The town is unfriendly to students and she has done nothing to address the issue. It's funny because it's about to bite the school in the butt while the town tries to stall development.

 

[zls44]

I think if you said this to a state troopers face he would punch you in the throat and then taser your @$$. There is only one state trooper and that is the dudes who drive around in the unmarked cruisers not some college police department.

There is a reason why they are called the UCONN Police Department and not the Connecticut State Police.

They absolutely are state cops.

 

[CL82]

Or she could stand up for the school and it's students instead of letting the town of Mansfield run roughshod over off-campus students and development. The town is unfriendly to students and she has done nothing to address the issue. It's funny because it's about to bite the school in the butt while the town tries to stall development.

...

Perhaps, but sometimes you can give them a broader perspective and how they "feel" will change on it's own.

...and sometimes you can't.

 

[JMick]

...

...and sometimes you can't.

look, I can recognize that she has helped promote the image and has done good for the value of a UCONN degree.

It doesn't mean I have to like her and it doesn't mean she does well with regards to the daily life of students.

 

[minidarren]

They absolutely are state cops.

They are cops that are employees of the state. They are not state troopers.

They aren't even in the same union as the state police.

 

[minidarren]

• Connecticut General Statute 10a-156b; The jurisdiction of [the UConn Police Department] shall extend to the geographical limits of the property owned or under the control of the above institutions, and to property occupied by The University of Connecticut in the town of Mansfield.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

There have been issues with the toy cops on campus for as long as there have been toy cops on campus. This is neither new nor is it unique to UConn. There have been issues with the way the town of Mansfield views UConn for as long as there has been a UConn. This is not new even id it is unique to UConn.

I'm not sure why an undergrad would really care about how friendly the school's president is towards the run of the mill student but I am very confident that down the road you will be thrilled with the value she will continue to add to the degree you will hold from UConn long after you've graduated.

 

[BlueMAB]

UConn police are Municipal police, not state cops.

http://publicsafety.uconn.edu/police/department-organization-noshow/department-overview/

The University of Connecticut Police Department (UCPD) is an internationally accredited law enforcement agency and a fully functional police agency with the same statutory authority as any municipal police department in the State of Connecticut.

 

[Durks07]

I think if you said this to a state troopers face he would punch you in the throat and then taser your @$$. There is only one state trooper and that is the dudes who drive around in the unmarked cruisers not some college police department.

There is a reason why they are called the UCONN Police Department and not the Connecticut State Police.

I wish they would. It would be nice to have the money to pay my student loans.

 

[JMick]

I wish they would. It would be nice to have the money to pay my student loans.

Seems like all you have to do nowadays is record a cop and he'll snap at you. Could be a means to recoup your costs haha

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Or she could stand up for the school and it's students instead of letting the town of Mansfield run roughshod over off-campus students and development. The town is unfriendly to students and she has done nothing to address the issue. It's funny because it's about to bite the school in the butt while the town tries to stall development.

In your opinion, how do some current UCONN students or some young alumni perceive some students are now run roughshod by the town of Mansfield? Similarly, what's your opinion on how some people perceive Mansfield is unfriendly to some students? Which facts support the opinions?

Again in your opinion, why do you or possibly some others perceive President Herbst has done nothing to address some individuals' perception of unidentified issues? How do some students, or possibly some recent alumni, believe unidentified issues have changed at UCONN in the face of possible improvements in recent years?

Factually versus symbolic perceptions, where's the potential humor?

 

[Stainmaster]

Or she could stand up for the school and it's students instead of letting the town of Mansfield run roughshod over off-campus students and development. The town is unfriendly to students and she has done nothing to address the issue. It's funny because it's about to bite the school in the butt while the town tries to stall development.

You have no knowledge of the current state of town politics or university-town relations. I would advise you to stand down.

 

[JMick]

In your opinion, how do some current UCONN students or some young alumni perceive some students are now run roughshod by the town of Mansfield? Similarly, what's your opinion on how some people perceive Mansfield is unfriendly to some students? Which facts support the opinions?

Again in your opinion, why do you or possibly some others perceive President Herbst has done nothing to address some individuals' perception of unidentified issues? How do some students, or possibly some recent alumni, believe unidentified issues have changed at UCONN in the face of possible improvements in recent years?

Factually versus symbolic perceptions, where's the potential humor?

Public condemnation towards the town of Mansfield for passing ordinances directed to impede off-campus student growth and renters rights would be a nice start

 

[Alum86]

Every generation of student believes they are somehow put upon by their president.

They're not.

I remember we had a president in the '80s, dibiaggio or something, then the Herb look alike. Never saw them really, never cared. Didn't see profs sometimes, they had T.A.s fill in. Again, no biggie, sure nothing personal I am sure. Kids need to get over themselves. Fishy is right.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Public condemnation towards the town of Mansfield for passing ordinances directed to impede off-campus student growth and renters rights would be a nice start

So, no facts, only opinions? No details on issues? No view on how things have changed versus prior administrations?

As much as UCONN wants to increase student population, what's the likelihood bigger overall university considerations influence benefits/costs than poo pooing or accommodating student whims with some more off-campus rental properties? Regardless, how would publicly condemning the town of Mansfield help overall town-gown relations?

 

[JMick]

So, no facts, only opinions? No details on issues? No view on how things have changed versus prior administrations?

As much as UCONN wants to increase student population, what's the likelihood bigger overall university considerations influence benefits/costs than poo pooing or accommodating student whims with some more off-campus rental properties? Regardless, how would publicly condemning the town of Mansfield help overall town-gown relations?

Town-University relations are an absolute mess and always have been. It's time the University takes a hard stance against the actions proposed and enacted by the town of Mansfield. Press action would be nice, outing the town as the simple-minded, selfish, egotistical folk they are. Instead.... nothing. Bring national attention to the fact that a tiny little town that wouldn't survive without the University actively stifles the growth of one of the best Universities in the country. Bring attention to all of the services the town of Mansfield receives due to the Universities presence. The town has passed quasi-illegal ordinances that would most likely not hold up in court, but they know that the people targeted by their ordinances (nuisance and renters ordinances) do not have the funds to fight anything in court.

 

[J187Money]

Such as?

 

[Stainmaster]

Town-University relations are an absolute mess and always have been. It's time the University takes a hard stance against the actions proposed and enacted by the town of Mansfield. Press action would be nice, outing the town as the simple-minded, selfish, egotistical folk they are. Instead.... nothing. Bring national attention to the fact that a tiny little town that wouldn't survive without the University actively stifles the growth of one of the best Universities in the country. Bring attention to all of the services the town of Mansfield receives due to the Universities presence. The town has passed quasi-illegal ordinances that would most likely not hold up in court, but they know that the people targeted by their ordinances (nuisance and renters ordinances) do not have the funds to fight anything in court.

This alone shows you can't be taken seriously.