The statue of SIU's legendary president Delyte Morris, which stands proudly outside of Shryock Auditorium, has been called less-than-aesthetic because his legs are cut off.
But that depiction speaks volumes about the outcome of the dreams of this visionary - a man who built our campus from a splattering of buildings for training teachers into a major research university within a few years.
It is obvious that the legs of his vision have been cut at the knees. The top-ranked automotive program in the United States is housed at this University. It deserves top facilities. The building deserves to shine as much as the students do.
But like so many of the buildings Morris created that made the nation take notice of this campus, it is crumbling. Sinking floors and urine-stained ceilings have not been fixed. During the last few years, the University has made promises, but it always ends with the same song and dance.
"Oh, we're struggling now. We just don't have the cash.
Just wait for awhile until we can find a new stash.
Then everything will be great, and our troubles will disappear.
Just stop complaining now, and try again next year."
Well, the Daily Egyptian is tired of waiting. Morris did not wait. He started to build, even when there were no promises to back him up.
But the money rolled in. The Illinois legislature refused to leave half-built buildings half-built. Donors could see that this University did not wait for permission; it ploughed into greatness full speed ahead.
Now, more than ever, we must reclaim that attitude. We can not afford to wait any longer, because state-funded universities never have enough. Right now, in the middle of the struggle, is the time to act. Interest rates are the lowest they will ever be. We will get more building for our buck. When potential donors see that we are committed to making this University as great as it should be, they will be committed too.
Yes, we are facing enormous budget problems. But instead of breaking out the old violin and stringing out our sob story, let's take a leap of faith. Let's say to the nation once again, we believe enough in our future University to build now.
Our current automotive technology students deserve that new facility now. Our current basketball team deserves an arena decorated with our honors past and present now, not a sterile dome of boredom. Our current mass communications and media arts students deserve to go digital now, rather than face the risk of losing a broadcast license because SIUC is too poor to keep up.
We believe in our University enough to say build now, worry later, just as Morris did without song, dance or justification. And you know, the worry never surfaced because he built a University all believed in enough to support financially.
We invoke the ghost of Morris to encourage the current administration to return his legs. Believe in this University enough to act in the worst of times, so we have a real guarantee that the best of times is yet to come.
Published on 11/17/05; 12:24:44 PM
