Daniel Patz starts Friends of Northland site: "support the healthy direction we have observed over the last several years"
I wonder how many people who are signing this list really understand what they are signing.
Now if the 1000+ signers will send $ 1000 each.
According to the statistics you cited, for 2010 they would need 2,700 to send in $1,000 each.
We alumni do need to do a better job of supporting the college. My biggest hurdle is that I do not know any of the faculty any more - literally hardly anyone. I believe the last couple professors that I would have known were just let go. It is hard to give to a place where there has been so much turnover and lack of consistency. Now, I’m all for many of the recent “changes” but those changes do make it hard to know to what or to whom you are giving.
After saying all that, we alumni do need to step up, but NIU needs to clearly articulate to whom and for what we are sending money. People need a clear vision and a level of consistency.
The signees to hit up would be Brett Favre, PHD from Green Bay and Jim Morrison, prospective student from Paris, France (think The Doors).
Oh the pitfalls of online petitions.
[Brian Keith]We alumni do need to do a better job of supporting the college. My biggest hurdle is that I do not know any of the faculty any more - literally hardly anyone. I believe the last couple professors that I would have known were just let go. It is hard to give to a place where there has been so much turnover and lack of consistency. Now, I’m all for many of the recent “changes” but those changes do make it hard to know to what or to whom you are giving.
After saying all that, we alumni do need to step up, but NIU needs to clearly articulate to whom and for what we are sending money. People need a clear vision and a level of consistency.
This is true, but look at NIU’s alumni - largely Christian schoolteachers, pastors and missionaries. Not exactly a ton of money in those two occupations.
"Our task today is to tell people — who no longer know what sin is...no longer see themselves as sinners, and no longer have room for these categories — that Christ died for sins of which they do not think they’re guilty." - David Wells
[Brian Keith]We alumni do need to do a better job of supporting the college. My biggest hurdle is that I do not know any of the faculty any more - literally hardly anyone. I believe the last couple professors that I would have known were just let go. It is hard to give to a place where there has been so much turnover and lack of consistency. Now, I’m all for many of the recent “changes” but those changes do make it hard to know to what or to whom you are giving.
After saying all that, we alumni do need to step up, but NIU needs to clearly articulate to whom and for what we are sending money. People need a clear vision and a level of consistency.
Brian, I think you hit the nail on the head regarding the key point of NIU’s situation. While I disagree with the direction I do agree with you about the lack of consistency and poor communication about the future vision of the school. NIU has opened the door and given legitimacy to two different support groups without really defining to either where it is going. NIU seems to want to have both groups at the same time, something that cannot work. One side or the other will “lose” when the new president arrives the future direction is declared. Going down the middle won’t work as well. No matter what side you are on is not affected because as you said, “It is hard to give to a place where there has been so much turnover and lack of consistency.” Make no mistake, this will affect enrollment next year.
Per Daniel Patz’ facebook wall, the Patz family is gathering tonight for a big meeting at 7pm.
Is Northland recruiting at charismatic churches? Possibly. I’m certainly not in a position to know. But nobody has said they are or are not.
What is the attitude toward fundamentalism among the Northland students? I’m sure the things that have gone on have turned them against it.
As much as conservative evangelicals claim that fundamentalists are bitter, angry people, there is a lot of bile going the other direction related to NIU. While we haven’t heard much of it, evangelicals taking potshots at fundamentalists has been a favored pastime for many years, and I’m not sure the NIU situation is going to be an exception.
I admit I have been out of this loop for the past six years, and only came across this forum trying to find out anything about what will happen next at NIU.
Our girls grew up on the mission field, and were homeschooled by my wife and me for much of their education. Our youngest daughter just finished her second year at a “Christian” university in our state, where she was taught Theistic evolution, Baptismal regeneration, and a mostly allegorical interpretation of Genesis. (All of which provided great dinner time discussions!)
She has recently decided to transfer to a Biblically conservative college, where her education will be far more encouraging for her faith. A friend of ours sent us the article written by Matt Olsen on April 19, and after reading it were convinced NIU would be a great option for her.( I figured there would be some fallout when I read the article, but honestly did not think he would resign just ten days later.)
She has received confirmation of her acceptance to NIU, and I hope and pray they make it through this tome of transition. I am very excited to see her go off to Dunbar, and wait to see what her Heavenly Father does to further conform her to the image of His Son!
They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world."
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