What is Public Affairs??? (3 of 11)
Conf: Public Affairs Discussion
From: April (xxxxxxx@mail.smsu.edu)
Date: Friday, November 20, 1998 08:05 AM
Actually, I think I could handle the task of "defining" Public Affairs.
It's the university's attempt to give something back to the community
through it's well-educated student citizens. The goal here is to have
well-educated students take liberal arts (general ed) classes to make
them more whole and complete in a universal sense. That way,
whenever we finally (if ever) graduate, we will in turn give something
back to society. By giving back to society, I mean that because we
are now well-educated student "citizens" we are able to make wise
decisions and choices allowing our communities to grow closer and
stronger....
I personally believe (after researching this topic) that this attempt will
succeed and that it IS worthwhile... People that don't think it's
worthwhile need to do some of their own research... Any
"well-educated" student will see that this "mission" is for the
better....
Topc: What is Public Affairs??? (4 of 11)
Conf: Public Affairs Discussion
From: Sarah (xxxxxxx@mail.smsu.edu)
Date: Friday, November 20, 1998 08:15 AM
Well, aren't we trolling.......
MY basic opinion is that SMSU is doing this for the fed. monies. All
the other stuff they really don't care about. They say they do, but
these are also the people that charge you thousands of dollars to take
the gen ed courses, and lets not forget heo we suck up to Carnanhan
around here....
Topc: What is Public Affairs??? (5 of 11)
Conf: Public Affairs Discussion
From: April (xxxxxxx@mail.smsu.edu)
Date: Friday, November 20, 1998 08:31 AM
I don't mean to troll, and I don't want anyone to think that I am, and I
RESPECT everyone's opinion on this matter. However, people that
say it's just for the money haven't really done all the research that they
can. Don't get me wrong, I do think that part of the reason is for the
$$$$$, but it's not the "big" picture. I mean, this university is what, the
2nd largest in the state?, and it is still one of the most affordable for
the kind of education we want? I gave up a full ride somewhere else
becase I know the programs they run here will benefit me in the long
run. I don't know what the answer for this discussion is... all I know is
that I spent over a month interviewing a majority of the people
involved, really involved, and I am glad I did. Cause now, I feel more
educated and able to speak intelligently about this topic... I feel like
it's personal when people don't understand the university's mission,
and it kind of puts me out to think that I am one of the few that cared
enough to research a boring topic...
Topc: What is Public Affairs??? (6 of 11)
Conf: Public Affairs Discussion
From: Wolfgang (xxxxxxx@mail.smsu.edu)
Date: Friday, November 20, 1998 08:46 AM
liste april, i don't mean to knock your opinion,
but i feel that i must speak (when dont i,huh?
i disagree most humbly, but the university is a business, one that
specializes in taking money from niave kids and adults, and gives them
little pieces of paper saying that the person is educated.
If one could get along in life, and be able to afford oppulence, then i
wouldn't be here. The only classes that i have learned anything in
were my German and accounting courses. All of the rest i knew or
could reason out, not bragging, but just stating what i think right now.
Please convince me i'm wrong, i'm tired of being a cynic.
Topc: What is Public Affairs??? (7 of 11)
Conf: Public Affairs Discussion
From: Cullun (xxxxxxx@mail.smsu.edu)
Date: Friday, November 20, 1998 09:01 AM
wolfy, from what you wrote you may not have gotten what they were
saying right. the public affairs mission doesn't necessarily get more
money from parents and kids, but it has provenly gotten more money
from the state legislature, and that's what they were referring to.
Topc: What is Public Affairs??? (8 of 11)
Conf: Public Affairs Discussion
From: Wolfgang (xxxxxxx@mail.smsu.edu)
Date: Friday, November 20, 1998 10:09 AM
cullun, i wasn't limiting the focus of my cynicsm to just pa dept, i was
throwing it on all of the college, and not just this school in particular,
in regards to the public affairs dept. in particular, what i was saying
was that it "lures" prospective students w/ it's nice wording and really
enthralls people, but really answer me please if you do go into the
school of public affairs, what really will u do? Will you be a spin
meister for a large corp? Or will you do something else, it is a genuine
question that i've been meaning to ask, but never got around to it, any
reponses would be greatly helpful, thank u
Topc: What is Public Affairs??? (9 of 11)
Conf: Public Affairs Discussion
From: Carol Anne (xxxxxxx@mail.smsu.edu)
Date: Friday, November 20, 1998 09:44 AM
Wolfgang, thanks for the good words about your German classes, but
I must throw in my several pfennig.
I could have taught at other institutions but I came to SMS precisely
because of the public affairs mission.
I would like to congratulate April on her research and the conclusions
she has drawn from it. I believe that one of the "jobs" of any university
is to create "educated persons" who learn to respect and give back to
the community. I would also assert (having spent 4 years and an
undergrad. and many more as a grad student in this country and in
Germany) that many universities don't follow through on what I
believe to be a "universal" mission. At least SMS is making a
concerted effort to do this.
AND, everyone needs to realize that nothing gets accomplished
without money these days. It doesn't matter what courses you take,
delivering a quality education is expensive, and SMS does a very
good job at giving students their money's worth.
Topc: What is Public Affairs??? (10 of 11)
Conf: Public Affairs Discussion
From: Wolfgang (xxxxxxx@mail.smsu.edu)
Date: Friday, November 20, 1998 10:29 AM
Has anything been accomplished in the area of Public Affairs other
than building a new building on campus?
I copied the mission statement from the sms website and interspersed
some questions that i think really need to be evaluated, they are set
off by a double hyphen(--)but it should be relatively easy to pick
these up
these are valid questions and i would be very happy to receive an
answer to part or all of them.
--------------------------------------------
The public affairs mission at SMSU seeks to:
Develop an increasing awareness of the public dimension of life.
--Does this mean that one is aware that there are others out there in
life?
Produce a broad literacy in the primary public issues.
--Isnt this what the gen ed courses are for?
--Weren't they around long before the PA Mission Statement?
Establish a campus environment where the awareness of public
questions is nurtured and their discussion is encouraged.
--Such as?
Create the capacity for and the interest in doing voluntary public
work.
--I have yet to see this in action.
Provide community service learning opportunities as a significant
component of disciplinary instruction.
--You can provide the oppurtunity, but can you make people take it?
Topc: PA Mission Statement (11 of 11)
Conf: Public Affairs Discussion
From: Joe (xxxxxxx@mail.smsu.edu)
Date: Friday, November 20, 1998 11:29 AM
On 11/20/98 10:29:25 AM, Wolfgang wrote:
Good idea, Wolfy! I have renamed the thread to reflect its direction.
>The public affairs mission at SMSU seeks to:
>Develop an increasing awareness of the public
>dimension of life.
>
>--Does this mean that one is
>aware that there are others
>out there in life?
That's part of it. Another part is that one must be aware of the world
as a system in which each of us plays a role, however small.
>Produce a broad literacy in
>the primary public issues.
>
>--Isnt this what the gen ed
>courses are for?
To an extent. But the gen ed courses' primary function is to make sure
students 1) have basic writing and mathematical skills and 2)
experiences with disciplines outside of their major. For instance, little
as I liked it, I had to take 12 hours of science classes.
>--Weren't they around long
>before the PA Mission Statement?
Yes, there was a Gen Ed program. Every three or four years a
committee was appointed to revise it and nothing EVER happened.
Keiser saw to it that the Gen Ed program WAS revised, with a Public
Affairs emphasis.
>Establish a campus environment
>where the awareness of public
>questions is nurtured and
>their discussion is encouraged.
>
>--Such as?
This WebBoard, for one.
>Create the capacity for and
>the interest in doing
>voluntary public work.
>
>--I have yet to see this in
>action.
It's there. Service Learning, for one thing.
>Provide community service
>learning opportunities as a
>significant component of
>disciplinary instruction.
>
>--You can provide the
>oppurtunity, but can you make
>people take it?
No. There's no denying that.