Comments on: Column: Speaking Truth to Power

By: cmadler

cmadler — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:36:28 +0000

Nick: From what I can tell, this is his house. Here it is on a map. 4,000 square feet on 1/3 of an acre right next to campus (and adjoining a large park) isn't what I'd call modest, but relative to his former income I guess it might be.

By: Steve Bean

Steve Bean — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:17:13 +0000

John, the truth is that much of the power stems from our use of money, which creates incentives for people (all of us to some extent) to compromise our integrity. Paterno used excessive wealth ($4+ million in donations) to leverage power to shape a system that denied the behavior in question. That’s not “the right way”, it’s the way of a money-driven system.

By: Bo Jangles

Bo Jangles — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:12:19 +0000

Thank you very much John U Bacon! for doing the very important and brave work of pointing out that the Emperors and their Court wear no clothes.(Uncomfortable mental image – but it fits) And thank you to the readers who write and invite further discussion.(I would note, unfortunately,not a lot of folks stepping up to participate at this point)
Always VERY IMPORTANT stuff – speaking truth to power. Even more so when there’s a 600 pound gorilla in the room few are courageous enough to take on. Good for you, John U. – Power to U.

So John U Bacon,and all, whats the average person to do? I already do the un-American, non-loyal thing and stay away from the games. I do still wear my Michigan sweatshirt – maybe I ought to throw that away and stop watching the games. You know – hit where it hurts – in the pocket book. Perhaps in the end that’s the only way to strongly communicate – ENOUGH ALREADY!

Again,what does the average person do? Uncomfortable though it is, the citizens of the land are complicit in the fact that the Emperors and their Court wear no clothes.

All the more reason not to dismiss this topic and move our short attention span to the next hours hottest topic.

Again, as of this writing, the citizens of the land have fallen sadly silent. I hope that will change.

By: Nick

Nick — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:32:05 +0000

Modest ranch: $595,484, location, location, location! He sold it to his wife for one dollar: [link]

By: ScratchingmyHead

ScratchingmyHead — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:02:31 +0000

Dr. Harry Edwards made the same observation back in the 70s and 80s when black athletes was being recruited to play ball in major universities throughout the country. Many of these schools previously barred them from even attending their campus. Once it became known that these athletes could easily be exploited and the universities could make money off them, they went all out to recruit them. I’ve known athletes who have played ball at the U, got hurt and was discarded like a rag doll. I’ve known athletes who have played ball at the U who could not sit down and compose a simple business letter. Duderstadt is correct in his observation. While the situation at Penn is a shame, it is just as important for us to remember the exploitation of poor black boys in the college sports arena. Let’s not justify it be saying that they are given scholarships…an opportunity for a priceless education at a world class university and the possibility to play professionally. We know that college football is the money God because it finances all the other sports including the non-revenue producing sports in addition to making instant millionaires of the coaches but will punish a kid for selling “his” property.

By: Rod Johnson

Rod Johnson — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 15:30:12 +0000

It's interesting that you mention Jim Duderstadt. Here he is quoted in a recent column in the NYT by Joe Nocera.

“College football and men’s basketball has drifted so far away from the educational purpose of the university,” James Duderstadt, a former president of the University of Michigan, told me recently. “They exploit young people and prevent them from getting a legitimate college education. They place the athlete’s health at enormous risk, which becomes apparent later in life. We are supposed to be developing human potential, not making money on their backs. Football strikes at the core values of a university.”

I agree. Thoughts?