Monthly Archives: December 2011

The vital center

Posted on December 26, 2011 by

All one hears today about Washington is that it is broken. Congressional approval ratings hover at about ten percent. The President’s rating is a good bit higher than that but certainly nothing to write home about. And why is this? … Continue reading →

Posted in Policy and Politics | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Sweet

Posted on December 24, 2011 by

My few days with my dad are coming to an end. I head back home early in the morning. I’ll be back January 9. That seems like a long time to me. To my dad, it seems like an eternity. … Continue reading →

Posted in Family | Tagged | 1 Comment

“That’s ironic, isn’t it?”

Posted on December 23, 2011 by

  I love New York. Just about everything about it. I was born in the city 58 years ago, but left with my family for the “great” state of Delaware when I was two. People who meet me often think … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Policy and Politics | Tagged | 1 Comment

More than O.K.

Posted on December 19, 2011 by

Late last week, a dear friend was rushed to the hospital. This morning, he passed away. Just this past Wednesday, he had stuck his head in my office, coming out of a trustee meeting and on his way home. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Family | Tagged | 8 Comments

Sometimes…

Posted on December 15, 2011 by

Jon Stewart knocked one out of the park Tuesday night. I was watching the story and can’t believe America has come to this. Some group in Florida ingeniously named the Florida Family Association called for a boycott of Lowe’s Home … Continue reading →

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This whole pledge thing

Posted on December 13, 2011 by

I don’t know who started this whole pledge thing – getting candidates for public office to swear (as in, So Help me God right above their signatures) their allegiance to one cause or another. Grover Norquist has the whole no … Continue reading →

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We’re Losing our Minds

Posted on December 12, 2011 by

This is not a blog about all of us having watched too many of the presidential debates. Instead, it’s another in a series about higher education in America. The title comes from a new book of the same title, by … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Policy and Politics | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

A letter of reference

Posted on December 9, 2011 by

I am asked to write these from time to time. I love being able to do this for students I have come to know well. Here’s one I wrote today. Name changed. December 9, 2011 To whom it may concern: … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Why I blog

Posted on December 1, 2011 by

This week’s Chronicle of Higher Education is full of stories and letters about Penn State (the football scandal) and UC Davis (the pepper spray scandal). The lead story ponders the demise of the ideal of university presidents as examples (or … Continue reading →

Posted in Policy and Politics | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments