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Changing mission?

I was very disturbed when I read that Chancellor Michael Ferrari changed the mission statement of Texas Christian University to: "To educate individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community." It sounds good until you look at the underlying problems with this statement.

Sure, everyone wants to be educated, that's the point of getting a college education. Sure, everyone wants to be ethical leaders; it makes us feel good if what we think that we are doing is correct and right. And, what is wrong with being a responsible citizen in the world or global community?

In addition, Faculty Senate Chair Nowell Donovan pointed out in your own publication at a school luncheon "the words of one generation have a way of inspiring ones to come." And here lies the problem É the purpose of changing the mission statement of the University is to influence or to inspire generations to come. And that the values of the global or world community should be our values. And that should not be the case; this statement is vague and leads to open thinking about Fabian socialism and does not take into account the values of Texas Christian University.

The Fabian view is to change the educational system, so the people will believe that utopian socialism is possible. The Webbs wanted to influence public opinion in this direction by not using mass organization but rather by the selective education of the powerful "few" who would lead the reforms in government and social programs.

In this, Individualism must die and be replaced with the value of global community, God (Jesus Christ) must die and be replaced with New Age religion and we must all die to self for the better good of humanism.

This will require us to give up our national identity for the better and more important global community. If you think this is not happening at TCU and the world, it is. Just take a look at the E.U., and what is happening in the world today. Even our own presidents, such as George Bush, quote from Alice Bailey's, "Thousand Points of Light," and states that we are headed for a new world order.

If TCU does not evaluate the consequences of such thinking, maybe they should just go ahead and change the name of the University as well to read "Global Community New Age University."

Brian L. Van Eaton '97

Institution of ethics

Your recent issue (Spring, 2004) has much to say about ethics, and rightfully so, of course.

However, I am reminded of an observation by William J. Gordon, who was my Rabbi when I lived in Colorado Springs some 25 years ago. Bill noted that the study of ethics does not make a man (or woman, of course) ethical; it merely makes him aware.

I have no doubt that the TCU faculty is aware of this, and try to lead their lives in such a way that the students do, indeed, move beyond awareness to being ethical. After all, one definition of education is a change in behavior.

Ed Sizemore '68 (MM)
Duncanville

Thank you for the Spring 2004 issue of The TCU Magazine and the section on ethics. Given the magnitude of the institutional crisis of our times Ð corporations, publications, religious institutions, investment funds, auditors, etc. Ð the erosion of public confidence can scarcely be exaggerated.

TCU's identification of this condition and its endorsement of the importance of ethics was both timely Ð and true to TCU's heritage. I hope that future issues will keep the readership "up to date" with the university's success in this commitment.

Thomas Liggett
(P.S. Ð An alumna shared her copy with me.)

I was somewhat surprised, yet pleased, to read the cover of the Spring 2004 issue of The TCU Magazine. Surprised, because TCU is behind in addressing this very important issue. Pleased, because an institution such as TCU should be at the forefront of leadership and ethics.

It saddened me, however, to read in the opening paragraph of the cover story that TCU featured Katie Gordon's frustration regarding campus cheating. Ethical behavior on a college campus should be an absolute. It should be foundational. It shouldn't be something that can be addressed by changing one's mission statement. At my current institution, students abide by a code of ethics germane to those living a Christ-centered life. They are part of a campus which houses the renowned Soderquist Center for Leadership and Ethics, training corporate CEOs to lead ethically and with purpose.

A small, liberal arts college began setting the tone for ethical leadership years ago. A well-known university in Texas is just now meeting the challenge.

April L. Moreton, Ph.D.,
John Brown University
Siloam Springs, Ark.

Thank you for the cover article of the Spring 2004 issue. Strangely, I am going through a situation with my Peer Assistance and Leadership (PALs) class and drinking. The students have signed a pledge to stay drug, alcohol, and tobacco free, but about one-third of them have not adhered to their commitment. I am gathering everything I can on honor, situations to consider which are based on real life ethics, and your article provided some interesting food for thought. Thank you.

Cricket Ingraham, English II/PALS,
Smithson Valley High School
Spring Branch

Back in 1954, as a veteran of the Korean "police action," I enrolled in a class titled "Business Ethics" at the University of Hawaii. We studied the history of major corporations in the United States and how their practices embodied the principle generally accepted and reasoned to this day: The end justifies the means.

In the Spring issue, Professor Galvin stated that students may assert that "ethics" refers to "the will or commands of a deity." He further states that "these positions are all indefensible, if not demonstrably incoherent, and I believe that the productive study of ethics can begin only when views of this sort are exposed as inadequate frameworks for moral judgment."

In a recent issue of Newsweek, President Bush is quoted as saying, "I was praying for strength to do the Lord's will. I'm surely not going to justify war based on God. Understand that. Nevertheless, in my case, I pray that I be as good a messenger of His will as possible." These were his thoughts "as he approached the final decision to go to war."

Did our President lead the country into war based on his belief in God, that it was His will for Bush to push onward as a Christian soldier? President Bush surely believed THE ENDS JUSTIFY THE MEANS! And this is what's so troubling -- that so many Christians believe that our country was right to go to war and invade Iraq. I fought in Korea in 1952, and the U.S. and its allies in the United Nations agreed that the North Koreans and Chinese Communists had to be stopped. I don't believe that there was an over-riding belief by President Truman that God was calling him to lead the country into that "war." It was a call for action irrespective of the Almighty's wishes.

Therefore, I ask, does ethical leadership promote the principle, The End Justifies the Means, in all, most, or some situations?

Wilfred Ogawa '60
Hawaii

Sporting ethics

I haven't had such a good laugh in years after reading my wife's issue of the Spring 2004 issue of The TCU Magazine (She is an alum, MLA '95). I'm referring to the item titled "Ethical Issues in College Athletics" on page 7, where NCAA president Myles Brand is quoted as saying, "college sports is not a business."

I wonder what rock he's been living under?

Dr. Jack C. Watson II, an assistant professor of sports psychology at the University of West Virginia recently wrote an analysis of collegiate sports with the following information:

1. NCAA projected revenue - $345 million (2001-2002).
2. NCAA tournament rights bought for $6 billion.
3. BCS television rights sold to ABC for $930 million.
4. BCS champions paid $17 million.
5. Notre Dame University contract with NBC Ð $45 million.
6. Major college coaches salaries, greater than $2 million per year.
7. Shoe and other merchandise endorsement in the millions.
8. Division I athletic department budgets, $20 million, plus.
9. Stadium seats and boxes sold for "big bucks."
10. Winning IS important Ð and it takes $$$.
11. Are coaches ethical (re: Baylor basketball)?

I don't wonder if ethics will be winked at in collegiate athletics so long as the NCAA maintains its attitude of (1) don't get caught and (2) don't rock the boat with the golden goose.

Constantin Costen,
University of Wyoming '70
Fort Worth

Our pleasure, soldiers

I just want to thank The TCU Magazine for the constant coverage of TCU alumni at war. I personally want to thank you for the article that included my newborn son and I upon my return from Iraq. Major Thomas Glenn Moore '90 Pooler, Ga Singing praises I was very surprised to see my picture in "Stories from the Barrio" in your latest issue of The TCU Magazine. I am that little Tejano Star name Paula that attended TCU and graduated with a MLA degree in 1995, and a M.Ed degree in 1999. I continue to reap the rewards of my early singing years by being inducted into two Halls of Fame. What a blessing! I enjoy keeping up with what is going on at TCU. Keep up the good work. Pauline (Paula) Willis Estrada Fort Worth .

Annmarie DeMattia
Richardson

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