WGSC

I'm considering sending this in as a guest column for the campus newspaper here. But first, I want to run it by some colleagues to make sure it won't result in an administrative order to attend a sensitivity training workshop.



A MODEST PROPOSAL

As a new faculty member, I'm constantly confronted with the same reaction when I proudly inform friends and relatives that I'm now an assistant professor of history at Wayne State College.

"Oh," they say. " I've heard of that school - it's in Detroit, right?"

I realize that WSC confronts many important challenges. The administration is working to improve infrastructure, bolster academic standards, increase enrollment, and deal with ongoing budgetary constraints. I feel strongly, however, that is time to put those secondary concerns aside in order to deal with the much more pressing issue - the fact that we are constantly confused with the much larger (and therefore less prestigious) Wayne State University. I also want to offer a solution - one that will help individualize our hallowed institution and also honour a hockey icon.

I propose that we change the name of our great school to "Wayne Gretzky State College."

The benefits of adopting this new moniker are obvious. First, it improves the brand without radically altering it - we just insert the word 'Gretzky' into the existing title. It could be the most successful marketing campaign since Kentucky Friend Chicken morphed into the younger, hipper, 'KFC'.

Second, it would undoubtedly improve our ability to recruit students from the Edmonton, Alberta region.

Most importantly, it increases our visiblity by linking WSC (soon to be WGSC) with the greatest hockey player of all time. After twenty seasons in the NHL, Gretzky claims sixty-one league records, including most career goals, assists, points, and most goals in a season. He won four Stanley Cups and eight Hart trophies as the league's most valuable player. The man scored fifty goals in thirty-nine games. In 39 games!!! The real question is not "should we rename the college after him", but "why haven't we done this already?"

Despite the tremendous advantages of such a move, I accept that there will be resistance from certain corners of the campus. Naysayers will point out the lack of a historical connection between Gretzky and the college.

Others might object on the basis that WGSC does not have a hockey team. Or an arena capable of hosting hockey. Some might go even further, arguing that northeast Nebraska has no significant in interest in hockey at all.

In actuality, each of these arguments are little more than a smokescreen for those people who don't want this college named after a Canadian. As an immigrant from the Great White North, I've faced similar instances of Anti-Canadian sentiment since leaving friends, family, and affordable health care back in my homeland.

Some of you will no doubt respond, "There's no discrimination against Canadians here at Wayne Gretzky State College. I treat Canadians just the same as I would treat anyone else."

But when was the last time you approached one of your Canadian-American professors and thanked them for an excellent lecture? Or offered to help with their photocopies? Or even just purchased a Snickers from the candy machine and delivered it to their office at 242 Connell Hall?
The first step towards correcting a problem is admitting that one exists. Let's be honest, renaming our college won't erase the suffering Canadian-Americans have endured for generations. It may be only one small step, but it's a step towards equality.

So if you believe America can one again live up to its founding principles, contact the administration and let them know that you want your voice to be heard. Send in a vote for Wayne Gretzky State College.

You'll be sending a vote for freedom.

Goodbye terrible two's?

It's been awhile since I've posted but as most of you know life gets crazy sometimes and we can't all be great at keeping up with it. Hopefully this new year will give me a knew found desire to be totally organized and get everything done that is always waiting to get done. I can hope, can't I?
Our wild, adorable, determined, and amazing little Luke turned 3 on Dec. 17th. I know it's hard to believe but Luke has been waiting for his birthday since September. Jake and Meg both have birthdays in Sept. the 9th and 10, back to back. So Luke watched as they both got breakfast in bed, special dinners, special desserts and presents. After their birthdays were over you could just see the wheels turning inside his head, "o.k. it's my turn next, any day now." Day after day he proclaimed that it was his birthday, "where are my presents." Sadly this little boy had to wait a whole 3 months in agony until it was actually his birthday.
On Dec. 17th we woke LUke up by singing Happy Birthday! He was very excited. I had told him earlier that I was going to make him a special cake and he couldn't stop talking about it all day. He kept calling it his "special puppy cake."

Luke couldn't wait to eat it.

All through dinner Luke kept saying, "I'm done." and then he would try to open his presents. Of course everyone but 3 year olds know that there is a certain order to birthday dinners, dinner, cake, PRESENTS! After months of waiting it was now Lukes turn for presents. My parents got Luke a gift card to Target and we thought he would love an easle. Chalkboard on oneside and whiteboard on the other. He loved it alright, he loved writing on our leather couch with the chalk and he loved writing on our couches in the basement with the markers.

What kid doesn't want an awesome potatoe with accessories. If there's one out there I don't want to know them.
Along with the new Toy Story 3 DVD and Don't Break the Ice game, Luke got something he has been wanting for, for quite some time. Everytime we'd go to Target and see a BUZZ LIGHTYEAR Luke would say, "Can I have Buzz if I go poo poo in the toilet?" (no, of course we don't bribe our kids to get them to do what we want) But if everyone must know Luke did get BUZZ, and it was just a coincidence that he finally pooped in the toilet and had a birthday at the same time.

We are so blessed to have Luke in our family. He keeps us on our toes that's for sure. As for those terrible two's disappearing I think they feel at home here and may stick around for another year. Luke is a fireball and the most persistent out of our 3 kids.(Shane and I are hoping that his persistent nature will be a strong attribute later in life, right now it's Lukes tool for wearing mom and dad down). Luke is full of life, fun and laughs, even at 3 he loves to be funny. He loves to read books, play games, be outside and wrestle.It's one of my favorite things to come home and have Luke run up, wrap his arms around my legs and say, "mommy, mommy I missed you." Life is good. We love you LUKE.
p.s. Here is a sample of Luke via video clip of the things he is capable of on a daily basis.

The Joy of Luke