Meet the new boss; same as the old boss?

Editorial Cartoon

School spirit: still a 'dream' for TSU

Meet the new boss; same as the old boss?

The Don has done it.

Ding, dong, the Fob is dead. Sort of, at least.

Congratulations are in order to Gov.-elect Don Siegelman, who rode his lottery/education platform into the governor's office with a less-than-narrow margin of victory.

Now only the future will tell if he can hold true to his campaign promise of an education lottery. Or any change in education funding at all.

Would anyone be surprised if he didn't? Didn't think so.

The first Democrat in the governor's office since George Wallace has already started to talk about his term in office.

"Mark this date on your calendar, Nov. 3, 1998," Siegelman said during his victory party Tuesday night. "The do-nothing days in the governor's office are officially over. I make this pledge to you; we will get the job done."

Pledge is for furniture. Action is what this state needs.

Only time will tell, as the saying goes.

What lies ahead for Alabama's higher education, its children, the real future of this country is in the hands of Siegelman.

Will he do right by the more than half-million voters who supported him?

Only time will tell if he can break the mold of politicians and keep the promises that won him the election.

It's up to you, Don. Be different. Do the right thing.

Return to the start of the Editorial Section...

Editorial Cartoon

Cartoon here

Return to the start of the Editorial Section...

School Spirit: still a 'dream' for TSU

Misty Russell/Features Editor

Have you ever sat down and thought about Troy State University's school spirit or lack of?

As most of you know, or I hope you know, this is Thursday of Homecoming week. As I have been looking around this campus this week nothing has changed.

The same mopey attitudes seem to dry out this university.

For some odd reason no other organizations are participating in any of the homecoming festivities other than Greeks. I am a Greek, therefore I have been very active this week. But I do get tired of seeing the same groups do the same things every year.

All week long we have been wrapped up with the competition of skit night, spirit spots, bed races and other traditional homecoming activities. We seem to have forgotten that we all go to the same school and we are all here for the same reason.

This year's theme is "Field of Dreams ... if you build it they will come." At some point the students of TSU have got to take the initiative to build it and they will come.

Now that we have the new physical capacity it is up to the students, faculty and alumni to build traditions and respect for TSU. No matter how hard SGA tries, it cannot provide enough spirit for the entire university.

Last week we had Homecoming Queen elections. SGA could not even get people to go vote. I have always thought that it was a privilege to vote for anything, so what about voting for a young lady who represents your school, you, your alumni and your traditions. Why would someone not vote? It takes just a few minutes, and according to the talk around here, there is nothing else to do anyway.

In order for us to move to Division I, we have to do more than just tailgate.

Cooking out and drinking is all well and good but maybe the students should consider going into Scrushy Field, our new "Field of Dreams." Granted, our stands will be packed, but not by us. Parents, alumni and Troy State boosters will fill our stadium.

We want to be compared to Alabama and Auburn. Well, you can't even get a ticket to an Alabama or Auburn game. Can you imagine not being able to get a ticket to a TSU game? I can!

With the reputation Troy State has as a "suitcase" college, don't you think the students should plan something beyond the biggest game other than hanging out at The Porch.

Everyone says your college days are the best days of your lives, and I believe it, but we have to make them exactly that. We should be making memories so that one day we will be excited about coming back to see how much our university has grown and developed.

I know students can stand together.

That's why we are still called Troy State University.

Let's stand together again and make this a Homecoming to remember.

They have built it; nobody has come. Why not give them a reason to have built our "Field of Dreams"? If we don't take pride in our school, who will?

Return to the start of the Editorial Section...

The Tropolitan wants your comments. Letters to the editor must be typed, signed and include the writer's affiliation to the university. An adress and phone number must also be included. Letters should not exceed 200 words. The deadline to submit letters is noon Monday. Space limitations may pervent the publication of letters received during the week. The editor reserves the right to edit for content and/or space. Send all letters to:

Tropolitan Editor

Wallace Hall

Troy, Ala. 36082

Return to the start of the Editorial Section...