MSU President M. Peter McPherson’s address introduced and emphasized many good programs the university will be carrying out in the next few years.
McPherson gave his eighth State of the University address Tuesday. The half-hour long speech discussed issues the university will face in the future including globalization, commercialization and technology.
McPherson has done a good job as the university’s 19th president and his speech outlined many good plans for MSU’s future.
McPherson’s encouragement of the study abroad program should be applauded. Programs like this should be encouraged to help students enrich their educational experience beyond the traditional classroom setting. Study abroad and the assistance the university provides for students to participate gives opportunities to students to see other parts of the world they may never have visited or even considered.
The Technology Guarantee, a plan that includes two free years of e-mail after graduation and encourages students to use technology from the beginning of their time at MSU, should also be continued and expanded.
McPherson expressed plans to add more goals to the guarantee he said would help serve MSU graduates better. In a world that is constantly becoming more technologically advanced, institutions of learning should always encourage the use of and improvement to the technology it provides. McPherson’s dedication to technology should be commended.
The STEPS program was also announced at the address. This program will work with high school students who graduate with economic and other disadvantages. The university will work with area community colleges to help students prepare for success at MSU.
This program is an excellent way to help many students who would not be successful at MSU without this encouragement. The university should strive to make a four-year post-secondary education attainable by as many students as possible.
The speech was also highlighted by a protest by 25 members of Students for Economic Justice. When McPherson’s speech concluded, the students began chanting, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, sweatshop labor has got to go.”
The group has been pressuring the administration to break ties with the Fair Labor Association, which it says doesn’t strictly monitor factory conditions, and join the Worker Rights Consortium. McPherson has agreed in the past to examine the Worker Rights Consortium.
McPherson should address the issue of working conditions at factories where MSU apparel is produced. While he has been open to listening to those protesting, it is time to take some action. He should take a definite stance on the issue of the Fair Labor Association and Worker Rights Consortium. He has had time to consider the issue and should state his position and plan for action.
While there are some other issues he needs to address, McPherson should be applauded for his plans that will ensure and improve MSU’s future.
