Community recognizes president amid controversy
EDITORIALS
Issue date: 11/4/04 Section: Opinion/Editorial
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Webster Groves recently honored the university's president by declaring "Richard S. Meyers Day" in the city. Celebrating his 10 years of service, they congratulated him on his "devotion to the overarching principles of innovation, equality and enlightenment... helping to transform the world one student at a time."
High praise coming from a city that reacted so harshly to Meyers' "militant" remark at the Delegates' Agenda meeting.
But perhaps the praise is deserved. For all the administration-bashing that we do on this page, Meyers has accomplished a lot in his 10 years here. Webster has become a worldwide institution with an international outlook.
Meyers expanded the university to over 100 campuses, including multiple overseas campuses, and while The Journal has humorously referred to his desire for "world domination," these expansions have given opportunities for students to expand cultural understanding.
In addition, by creating Webster Works Worldwide, Meyers founded a day to send students and faculty out into the community and put their ideals to practical use.
Of course, the city did not dedicate a day to Meyers on their own accord. Webster administrators pushed along that idea. The celebration would have been much more extraordinary if the city had thought of the idea on its own to show their appreciation for all the growth and construction Webster University has brought to the community.
University administrators said that the city wrote the proclamation and they only provided information, but that seems hard to believe. After all, the proclamation says the library and renovation of the Loretto-Hilton Center helped fill "community needs."
Meyers' campaigns to expand the main campus have been the most contentious of his efforts. While the apartments, library and garage help students, Webster's expansion has posed threats to city residents.
Whatever any student or city resident thinks of Meyers, it is undeniable that he has pushed along innovations that have changed the university and the city. Anyone who did not celebrate Richard Meyers Day missed a milestone.
High praise coming from a city that reacted so harshly to Meyers' "militant" remark at the Delegates' Agenda meeting.
But perhaps the praise is deserved. For all the administration-bashing that we do on this page, Meyers has accomplished a lot in his 10 years here. Webster has become a worldwide institution with an international outlook.
Meyers expanded the university to over 100 campuses, including multiple overseas campuses, and while The Journal has humorously referred to his desire for "world domination," these expansions have given opportunities for students to expand cultural understanding.
In addition, by creating Webster Works Worldwide, Meyers founded a day to send students and faculty out into the community and put their ideals to practical use.
Of course, the city did not dedicate a day to Meyers on their own accord. Webster administrators pushed along that idea. The celebration would have been much more extraordinary if the city had thought of the idea on its own to show their appreciation for all the growth and construction Webster University has brought to the community.
University administrators said that the city wrote the proclamation and they only provided information, but that seems hard to believe. After all, the proclamation says the library and renovation of the Loretto-Hilton Center helped fill "community needs."
Meyers' campaigns to expand the main campus have been the most contentious of his efforts. While the apartments, library and garage help students, Webster's expansion has posed threats to city residents.
Whatever any student or city resident thinks of Meyers, it is undeniable that he has pushed along innovations that have changed the university and the city. Anyone who did not celebrate Richard Meyers Day missed a milestone.
