Year's standout events

Like any other school year, 2007-08 had its ups and downs.

At its best, it brought another MAC football championship to Mount Pleasant. At its worst, it brought about racial tension when nooses were found in a classroom.

Here is a look at what was good, bad and ugly this

academic year.

The Good

N*gger, W*tback, Ch*nk

The play sparked more honest conversations about race than most of what CMU has done for the last several years. In addition to bringing controversial acts like this to campus more often, CMU should strive to educate about race in ways that are more interactive and attract more diverse crowds than the typical forums.

MAC Championship (again)

Much like in 2006, the football team gave campus something to be excited about. The dazzling play of quarterback Dan LeFevour and kick returner Antonio Brown led CMU to a second consecutive Mid-American Conference title. The Chippewas struggled in the non-conference games, going 1-4, and the defense was awful, but CMU won when it counted. The season was highlighted by a thrilling come-from-behind win at Western to secure a MAC West title.

The Bad

Dennis Lennox

This hyperactive activist could have been chilled if CMU had only not treated him like the pain he too often is. On several occasions, CMU officials treated Lennox differently than they would have treated any other student, and that treatment only gives Lennox a license to complain. Preferential (or the opposite) treatment means media coverage, further amplifying CMU's mistakes. Treating even annoying students fairly is the best way to avoid similar mistakes in the future.

Sacking the Promise

The CMU Promise was CMU's claim to fame. When it was unveiled in 2005, CMU officials hailed it as the next big thing in academia. Yet in the end it was a colossal failure. Yes, it wasn't all CMU's fault because the state economy was bad - and students still did benefit. However, CMU couldn't make any money. And the Promise was broken. Now incoming freshmen likely will pay the fourth highest tuition in the state. Tuition rates should be lowered, not just held to low increases, at the July 17 Board of Trustees meeting.

The Ugly

Firing Rich Morrison

Because it's a personal issue, we may never know why public relations chief Rich Morrison was canned in November. We do know there were several reports about his behavior, culminating in a Nov. 20 "intemperate" meeting at which Morrison proclaimed the faults of a coworker before his staff. His replacement, Renée Walker, will take over May 12. Let's hope she is easier to get along with than Morrison. But more than that, let's hope she can more effectively sell the brand of CMU education.

Noose Incident

The most notable occurrence this year was one CMU would rather forget. Four nooses were hung in a classroom, which set off a media firestorm. CMU officials tried to handle it the best they could, but you can never make a situation like this go away. CMU suspended the student for the rest of the year, according to a blog. It is a shame this is the most notable event at CMU this year.

[More at http://media.www.cm-life.com]