Dear editor,
You would think, here in the shadow of Socrates and Bill Gates, words like loyalty, education, community pride and simple moral ethics would be the cornerstone of our educational system. Each year, young men and women come here to learn about life from books, professors, their peers and the example set by this multi-billion dollar institution. A lot of what they see and hear form the concepts they will use to be successful leaders in both business and the world community.
An editorial, "PUT THINGS RIGHT" by the Daily News about David and Jacquolyne Werner's home on North Calvert was a wake-up call for this administration and its goals.-á
David and his wife were alumni who always had a smile and a helping hand for every person in their world, and their world was the Ball State community for over 20 years. Past presidents, trustees, educators and students have enjoyed their home. After all that, during a week that Mrs. Werner had happily donated money to the university, she received the notice informing her of the university's intention to take her home by pursuing an eminent domain claim. A few hours later, she had a stroke and then died. Was her death due to a medical problem or the pain caused by the betrayal of an institution she loved?
Well, once more this institution is showing us that institutionalization and expedience is more important than loyalty and moral ethics.-á If the institution can not understand the type of social and moral principles they are teaching this community, then it should remember its pocketbook because it is people like the Werners who make the fund-raising campaigns so successful; the last one raised a record $112.9 million, $23 million over their goal. Institutions need to understand that loyalty and respect is a two way street.
As the Daily News said so eloquently, "Law or no law, respect transcends eminent domain."
After 50 years, of which over 35 have been walking between these buildings, I know that the administration knows that real education begins and ends with loyalty, hard work, compassion and moral ethics --- my mom called it "The Golden Rule."
Eric E. Richardson
graduate student
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