Alumni Association President a Wildcat?

[shockmonster]

In my opinion, those without diplomas should meet players at SASO events, etc. "Alumni" are Alums of that University. Not everyone gets a ribbon for participating once you get past grade school, OK...maybe High School, these days.

I don't have a diploma, but I've gone to grad school at WSU (finished somewhere else) and I actually thought that I was an alumni. My son went to K State and finished at Fort Hays State, my son in law went to K State and finished at Pittsburg State, mu daughter went to K State and graduated there, and my wife finished her last two years at Wichita State. My father never attended WSU but was a season ticket holder for almost 40 years prior to passing away and he brought us up to love the Shockers.

What I'm hearing here is that only my wife should have been attending Shocker Alumni Pep Rallies at St. Louis for the past number of years including the upcoming trip to St. Louis. Good to know.

[ShauXTyme]

Inviting non-alumni to Alumni Assoc. events is fine, but they shouldn't be allowed to join the Association.

[ShauXTyme]

I think I'd like to join the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame, so I'll just write a check. Never played a lick of ball, but that shouldn't matter.

[shockmonster]

So what qualifies one as an alumni? My wife is considered as an alumni by the other institution that she attended and by WSU where she graduated.

[Rlh04d]

So what qualifies one as an alumni? My wife is considered as an alumni by the other institution that she attended and by WSU where she graduated.

Attending a school technically qualifies you as an alumni, regardless of graduating. That's part of the definition of the word.

[Rlh04d]

Not naive, but trying to force your idea of what it should be into something that has existed for years.

In your estimation, would a person one-credit-hour shy of graduating be worthy of being in a true alumni association? How about a graduate school candidate that has an excess of hours to graduate, but hasn't submitted a thesis? Is it only those with a piece of paper saying "diploma"?

Should SASO donors without a WSU diploma be excluded from Alumni Association membership? What about AA sponsored events? AA tailgate parties? It would seem somewhat hypocritical to me to accept their money but deprive them of an opportunity to meet the players or buy their nachos.

Both of the hypothetical scenarios you proposed would actually fall under the definition of alumni, so I would be fine with those as well.

The one I have a real problem with is giving Alumni Association membership to people that do not fall under the definition of the word "alumni."

Apparently I'm wrong on that, per accepted practice. However, it's a cash grab and I don't like it. IMO, an Alumni Association should strictly be a group limited to people who attended a university. By allowing people who never attended a class at a university, you're basically saying an Alumni Association is no different than an academic booster club. I don't think meeting the definition of the word "alumni" as a requirement for joining an "Alumni" Association is strange.

[1972Shocker]

Not sure why this is even an issue considering The Wichita Alumni Association has operated under its present rules for many years now, if not decades. I am an alum but my wife is not although she has a attended a few classes. We are both lifetime members although we do not really actively participate if many Alumni Association events. I look at it a lot like SASO membership. It's just another way to support the University. I suppose they could change the name to The Wichita State Alumni & Friends Association if that would make everyone feel better. As far as I know they have never made a big secret about how they operate.

I haven't heard Dr. Bardo express any interest in changing the way the Alumni Association operates nor do I expect that is anywhere on his radar.

http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/offices/alumni/

[SHOXAAC]

I think I'd like to join the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame, so I'll just write a check. Never played a lick of ball, but that shouldn't matter.

And I will be your presenter.

[ShockerPrez]

This is kinda like having a homeowners assoc president that lives in another neighborhood.

[shockmonster]

I think I'd like to join the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame, so I'll just write a check. Never played a lick of ball, but that shouldn't matter.

It sounds to me like you are trying to have an exclusive club that relatively small number are qualified to be a part of. The Pro Football Hall of Fame have their a very exclusive club that has rules on qualifying. You may want the Alumni Association to adopt some of their rules. You have to be out of the league for 5 years for one. A high percentage of a committee of sports writers have to choose you is another. Then one has to be have high statistics and/or a great reputation to qualify.

You may not be able to qualify for the WSU Alumni Association if you get your way. :)

[SHOCKvalue]

Well, this is weak sauce imo. There are a lot of people who love the Shockers who aren't alumni and it appears to me that the Alumni Association is catering to these people like they were actually alumni.

I would venture that the Pep Rallies at the MVC Tournament have a good number of non-alumni from Wichita who go to St. Louis to support the Shockers.

It is not an us versus them argument, at least not coming from me. Just basic rationalization. I wouldn't join the Kansas Society of CPA's, because I'm not a CPA. I wouldn't join the K-State Alumni Association because I am not a K-State alum. It doesn't mean I hold myself in either a higher or lower regard than the members of those groups, but my inclusion into them would be non-sensical.

[SHOCKvalue]

I don't have a diploma, but I've gone to grad school at WSU (finished somewhere else) and I actually thought that I was an alumni. My son went to K State and finished at Fort Hays State, my son in law went to K State and finished at Pittsburg State, mu daughter went to K State and graduated there, and my wife finished her last two years at Wichita State. My father never attended WSU but was a season ticket holder for almost 40 years prior to passing away and he brought us up to love the Shockers.

What I'm hearing here is that only my wife should have been attending Shocker Alumni Pep Rallies at St. Louis for the past number of years including the upcoming trip to St. Louis. Good to know.

I guess my thought is if you love a school, then you actually go to school there, but WTF do I know. I mean it is one thing if you want to major in something WSU doesn't offer, live out of state, or find a better scholarship offer, but excluding those situations (or similar) you are a fan of WSU athletics, not really WSU the school.

[Shocker-maniac]

This is just one I can't get worked up about. I mean I'm not real excited about a KSU alum heading the thing up, but everything else is ok by me. Like @1972Shocker: said, it's been this way for years, why are peeps getting worked up about it now?

[_kai_]

I'm extremely happy about the hire. The #1 thing is that she is qualified for the position. I'm thrilled that she has had experience actually running an Alumni Association, and has experience in fundraising as well. I think it's a huge upgrade for the Alumni Association, regardless of if she graduated from our University. I guess I'm not of the opinion that the head of the alumni association should be held to a higher standard than any other position at the university. The President isn't an alumnus, do they have to be? How about student involvement or housing or the provost? I just don't agree that the CEO of the Alumni Association has to be an alumnus, if they're qualified for the position. Qualified is qualified in my book.

[WstateU]

I'm extremely happy about the hire. The #1 thing is that she is qualified for the position. I'm thrilled that she has had experience actually running an Alumni Association, and has experience in fundraising as well. I think it's a huge upgrade for the Alumni Association, regardless of if she graduated from our University. I guess I'm not of the opinion that the head of the alumni association should be held to a higher standard than any other position at the university. The President isn't an alumnus, do they have to be? How about student involvement or housing or the provost? I just don't agree that the CEO of the Alumni Association has to be an alumnus, if they're qualified for the position. Qualified is qualified in my book.

She seems to be doing OK...

Is this Claudius Johnson's daughter? Impressive young lady.

Another sharp young lady.