At 11:50 PM 11/24/97 -0500, Karen Ambrose wrote:
>>From Hockey-L list
>Message by Greg Ambrose - [log in to unmask]
>
>--- begin forward ----
>
>The Sunday, Nov. 23rd Boston Globe features an article in their New
>England
>section entitled "UMaine Looks to Restore Lost Stature".  It cites
>several
>reasons why the school's enrollment has decreased 3,200 in the last
>eight
>years, a drop of over 25%.  Among the reasons given, surprise, surprise,
>was the circumstances surrounding the NCAA violations associated with
>the
>mens' hockey team and the school's method of response, especially with
>the
>coach, Shawn Walsh.
>
>UMaine President Peter Hoff and student government president Jennifer
>Nelson  both acknowledge that the school's handling of the L'Affaire
>Walsh
>has had a detrimental effect.  "You had a Divsion 1 coach breaking rules
>and getting away with it, and he's still here," says Nelson.  "That
>sends a
>message."  Hoff, the new president of the university, admits that "it
>had a
>negative effect, in ways that don't make sense to a lot of people."
>
>It should be noted that a resolution drafted by student government
>calling
>for UMaine to fire Walsh was withdrawn after it met strong oppositon
>from
>the student body.  And, the drop in enrollment is not solely
>attributable
>to the hockey team's woes.  However, for this observer anyway, it is
>comforting to know that at least some people, including prospective
>students and their parents, have included the former UMaine
>administration's handling of the Shawn Walsh debacle as a factor when
>making a decision on the worthiness of the school.
>
>I would have to say that the school is paying the price with its
>transgressions, even if Walsh is not.
 
 
I'm sure that Shawn Walsh being retained as hockey coach was the reason
"the school's enrollment has decreased 3,200 in the last eight years.
NOT!!!!!
 
Any potential student who makes his or her decision based on who the hockey
coach is close to incapable of having a rational thought and probably
shouldn't attend any university.  There is one exception and that is if the
student is also a hockey player.  In that case the hockey coach is of vital
importance in the decision making process.
 
While I haven't seen the entire Boston Globe article, based on the above it
appears that the writer must have failed Logic 101.   In the writer's eyes
the drastic cuts impossed by the Maine legislature in spending on higher
education, elimination of some programs, slashing of funds available for
research, lose of qualified staff due to budget woes are certainly minor
compared to who the hockey coach is.  I would be willing to bet that 90% of
the applicants (and their parents) to the University of Maine couldn't  name
the hockey coach.  In addition, those students who decided to go elsewhere
three to eight years ago must be "national treasures" and and are highly
sought after by organization like the CIA.  They must be clairvoyants to be
able to see eight years into the future and decide not to attend the
University of Maine because of future administration decisions about a
hockey coach.
 
I pity anyone who is so shallow and illogical to make such an important
decision as where to attend college based on the hockey coach rather than on
the strength of the program they plan on entering, cost, location of the
university, the reputation of the faculty in their area of interest, ability
to do hands on research, availability of scholarships and or finacial aid,
the quality of life on the campus and surrounding area, and a myriad of
other things.  If prospective students have decided to go to universities
other than the University of Maine because of the hockey coach, it is
clearly Maine's gain.
 
Bob Svec