I have always been a advocate of higher education, I sincerely believe a college or technical education is critical for the well-being of any community.
From Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers, Scientists and Engineers to Welders, Mechanics, Crafters and Miners, an education means security and progress.
Over the past few months I’ve been receiving calls and emails from concerned alumni from the late great College of Eastern Utah, concerned that they are being cast aside and intentionally removed from campus functions.
For a little context, CEU is now gone, replaced almost a decade ago by Utah State University Eastern amid financial struggles that would have almost certainly meant closure.
The merger with Utah State was initiated with a “Memorandum of Understanding,” a document which included such provisions as to allow the former “CEU” to retain some semi-autonomy, including its colors, sports programs and mascot.
However, nearly every aspect of the memorandum has been overlooked or disregarded as USU Eastern no longer contains any original CEU colors and has been rebranded with a stylish and slick new blue mascot.
Now, I understand the necessity of a merger with USU and I am intensely loyal to both institutions.
However, I have heard stories from members of the CEU Alumni Association about an instance of unwarranted hostility from Eastern’s administration that has me very concerned.
This poor treatment includes being told they are no longer allowed to meet on campus, which baffles me since alumni have provided nothing but assistance.
The reactionist in me wants to get to the bottom of this by calling for heads. Seriously, what ungrateful child thinks they can get away with treating members of this incredibly charitable organization like this?
If this is true, then I sincerely hope the administration handles it appropriately and realizes that without the support of the community and this organization, they will continue to see declines in enrollment and support.
I have extremely high hopes for USU Eastern. I have met and spoken with USU President Dr. Noelle Cockett, she is an incredible leader and I have every confidence she will hear these concerns and act accordingly.
Now, I do have some suggestions. If Utah State University truly wants USU Eastern to be successful and not just another satellite campus, some changes need to occur.
These are only my opinions but I feel strongly they could lead to a rebranding of USU Eastern as an educational powerhouse.
The first thing I’d do is take advantage of their location within the Dinosaur Diamond. Really, why in the world does USU not have a paleontology and geology undergrad/graduate program in Price? There is no better place on the planet to have these programs.
Every year I see lines of vans from Harvard, Columbia, Princeton, Stanford and Yale lining the canyon highways here to study our rare wonders. Next, I’d suggest USU move some of its own programs/colleges headquarters to Price. Why not expand and move their Technical Ed. programs to town?
Finally, the community needs to get involved. Every game should be sold out, every banquet oversold and every play standing-room only. The notion that there is nothing to do in Price is only ever suggested by boring and uninspired people who need to spend more time at the college.
Alleged strife between USUE, CEU Alumni Assoc. will weaken what should be and could be the best small college in Utah
NEW NATHANIEL WOODWARD