Nicole Sharp

Aaron Shaffer said

Thanks Nicole! I agree with you.

She She said

I came to Case in the early ‘90’s as an undergraduate. I lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the picturesque college town, home of the University of Michigan. Though U of M had great academic programs I was put off by its large, impersonal atmosphere, racial/gender tensions and bland social life. Though Detroit was nearby, it wasn’t (and still isn’t) the safest place for casual hangouts. So I looked at other North American universities in urban areas that could offer an exemplary education, accessible cultural attractions and a friendlier environment. I chose Case over the University of Chicago, University of Toronto, USC and MIT, a pretty impressive list, because of the recommendation of my high school teacher and its historic reputation in my chosen field. I did tours/interviews of many of the other universities I was accepted though I skipped the tour of Case. But a year after the Rodney King beating/LA riots aftermath, Cleveland, Ohio seemed like a safe bet…

Sometimes I still kick myself for not going to U of C, because upon arrival Case looked nothing like the pamphlets and did not meet my expectations. It felt more like a fortress, barricaded from the surrounding community, its dormitories looked like over-priced housing projects, the academic buildings’ architecture was both plain and dated, and a sense of apathy permeated the campus. Driving down Euclid Avenue, if you blinked you wouldn’t even know you passed the place. There were bright spots – I came to both respect and love my professors’ approach to their subjects. I met both my husband and my best friend in the city. Yet my undergraduate experience was underwhelming.

After graduation, I decided to stay in Cleveland to pursue my graduate education at Case. Thus I have witnessed the transformation of the campus from an “outsider” point of view and it has been impressive, particularly these past few years under Hundert’s leadership. I think it was a stroke of genius to give Case an identifiable, pronounceable “brand name.” When you say Case Western Reserve University or CWRU outside of the Cleveland area, the average person gives you a blank look, even in those in fields Case is nationally recognized (physics, business, social work, etc.).

The nitpicking by the old alumni associations sounds like sour grapes and a power grab – why didn’t they merge with the university in 1967? Less head honchos! If recent alumni/donor contributions have decreased, let’s not forget we’ve been in a both a national and regional recession for the last 5 – 6 years, with an accelerating brain drain in the Cleveland area. Both individuals and local businesses have less money to spend with salaries/profits flat the past 6 – 8 years but medical and energy expenses skyrocketing, especially the past three years. Business headquarters, like BP, have abandoned the city wholesale, taking valuable professional labor pools with them, making downtown a shell and smaller businesses collapsing. This is important, because the Board of Trustees, when making the decision to go forward with their Vision, could not anticipate some of the regional economic changes that would drive us into a deficit.

I think the recent media expose was mostly a reflection of the region’s misguided frustration – Case is now the largest employer in the county, followed by the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals. It’s looked at as the white knight in shining armor, a panacea for everything that’s wrong with Cleveland. Though it can be one economic engine for the region, it’s become the de facto economic engine – but it’s too small to take on that burden. Case doesn’t have a +50,000 student body in a sterile, isolated township such as U of Mich. It doesn’t have the same dominance/control over external technology firms like some other universities. It’s in a tug-of-war over grant funds with its neighbor, the Cleveland Clinic.

Though it can eventually become a regional powerhouse, it will take time and money. It was a mistake on both the part of Case and Cleveland to think it should/could immediately stretch its borders to outlying economically weak areas of the city when there’s much Case needs to do in its own backyard.

The board’s ongoing effort to beautify the campus, making it a cohesive whole across Euclid Avenue, building and renovating structures along both classic and modern lines is sorely needed. I’m sure undergraduates (and those parents paying for them) living in the new dormitories feel they are getting their money’s worth compared to those living in the older dorms. Though SAGES hasn’t been a runaway success, it’s the first significant change I’ve seen in undergraduate education in over a decade, if not longer – there are bound to be growing pains. Encouraging investment and cooperation with the surrounding neighborhoods is needed as well – bringing down crime, increasing property values, reducing tensions with long term residents and most importantly, encouraging Case employees – both faculty and staff – to move into the area so they become part of the larger community. These types of investments will attract higher quality students/faculty/staff in the future.

These were not ideas originated by Hundert, nor were they all initiated by Hundert, Anderson and the current Board of Trustees. But the Vision Plan greatly accelerated these ideas, making some a reality and not just idle talk. Have Hundert/Anderson/the Board of Trustees made mistakes? I’m sure they have. But compared to the attitudes of prior administrations that seemed to talk about change while maintaining the status quo, from an outsider’s perspective I think their bold initiatives were the shot in the arm Case/CWRU, whatever you want to call it, desperately needed. Perhaps this vote of no-confidence will give some mid-course corrections, open up true dialogue, remove the secrecy and any financial missteps and restore confidence to our donor pool. But unlike Harvard, airing our dirty laundry may not be as forgivable to any alienated donor/alumni pools.

Let’s hope we don’t lose the forward momentum we’ve gained in a more vibrant campus environment as a result.

She She said

I forgot to mention...unlike many higher ranked schools like MIT, all my courses, both undergrad and grad, were taught by faculty members, not instructors or TA's. This has been invaluable, definitely worth the tuition!