Angie Rogers got a glimpse of MSU that she doesn’t often see while just walking to class.
Rogers, a mathematics junior, was one of about 300 other students, faculty members and city officials who attended MSU President M. Peter McPherson’s eighth State of the University Address at the Wharton Center’s Pasant Theatre on Tuesday.
The half-hour long speech highlighted the challenges the university faces as it moves into the future - globalization, commercialization and technology.
“In the next decade, higher education will face more competitive and demanding environments requiring more change than ever before,” McPherson said in his address. “It will require careful balance to remember who we are while adapting our particular strengths and traditions for a new age.”
The address, which preceded an award’s ceremony where 31 faculty and staff members were honored, introduced two initiatives for the first time - two master’s degree programs the university will offer through its Virtual University and the STEPS Program.
STEPS, McPherson explained, will assist students who graduate from high school with economic and other disadvantages. The program, designed for transfer students, will collaborate with several community colleges to provide advising for students while they prepare to attend MSU.
Rogers said McPherson’s yearly address sparked her interest this year when she heard that similar speeches are uncommon at other Big Ten schools.
“I don’t feel like a lot of stuff that happens around here effects me directly,” she said. “I just wanted to hear what’s going on, because I don’t know.
“And I learned something.”
Barbara Steidle, assistant provost for undergraduate education, suggested Rogers wasn’t alone.
She said the audience learned most about where the university needs to head to be successful.
“I think (the address) presents a whole series of things the university needs to think about seriously as we move into the next few years,” Steidle said.
McPherson encouraged the university to become more globally connected - MSU already plays host to the nation’s largest study abroad program.
The university’s 19th president called on MSU to enhance its technological infrastructure and said MSUmust also play a significant role in the economy.
“The part about information technology is really essential to our future,” said Robert Huggett, vice president for research and graduate studies. “We’ve already seen a lot of increases, from basic research all the way to distance learning.”
East Lansing City Manager Ted Staton said McPherson’s speech covered key issues, but said he believes some choice areas were forgotten.
“I think (McPherson) could have bragged about how there has been more MSU involvement with the community,” he said. “There has been more than I can remember in many years.”
Others felt McPherson didn’t speak on issues they wanted to hear about.
Jane Kilmer, a social work sophomore, was one of 25 Students for Economic Justice members who led a protest against MSU’s affiliation with sweatshops.
When the speech ended, the group chanted “Hey, hey, ho, ho, sweatshop labor has got to go.” SEJ is a student-led movement against unfair labor conditions at factories where MSU apparel is manufactured.
“I wasn’t impressed with his speech,” Kilmer said. “We really are just wondering why if he says he cares about the Worker Rights Consortium, why he hasn’t signed on to it.”
Students, since early last year, have requested the university do away with its affiliation with the Fair Labor Association - which opponents say doesn’t strictly monitor factory conditions.
The Worker Rights Consortium, which McPherson has in the past agreed to examine, appoints independent workers to monitor labor conditions.
As people were walking into the Wharton Center before the address began, fliers - which looked like a mock certificate - were passed out, saying “President McPherson and MSU Administration, voted ‘Most likely to ignore basic human rights.’”
McPherson, who has also in the past said he has some problems with the Fair Labor Association, didn’t see the flier until after he gave his speech, he said.
“I have been a strong supporter of the university being involved in workers’ rights issues,” said McPherson, who has worked abroad. “Frankly, I know a lot about them, having been in most of the countries that are in question back when I was head of the (Administration for International Development).”
And McPherson said he still intends to be very engaged in workers’ rights issues.
Drew Olson, a no-preference sophomore and SEJ member, said that while the administration does listen to what they say, officials do not take any action.
“We are not going to convince people that the WRC is right by just making noise,” he said. “We feel that if we keep applying pressure like this, we will get what we want.”
Nicole Jacques can be reached at jacques9@msu.edu.
Rachel Wright can be reached at wrightr9@msu.edu.
