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“Things are really going very, very well,” President Dr. Claudia Limbert said Thursday, the anniversary of the Mississippi Legislature’s approval of the Martin Bill, which created the university originally known as Industrial Institute and College.
“Enrollment is up, giving is up,” Limbert said. “The faculty are busy and doing productive work. For our first 125 years, we’re doing pretty well, and we’re looking forward to the next 125 years.”
Limbert presided over a party at Rent Auditorium. The celebration included a birthday cake made by MUW’s Culinary Arts Institute and the release of 125 blue and white balloons.
In front of guests including students, faculty, staff and the community, Columbus Mayor Robert Smith presented a proclamation “to applaud MUW on the contributions you have made.”
Rep. Esther Harrison, D-Lowndes County, thanked her alma mater “for the work that you have done and the work that you are doing.”
Since its beginning as II&C, the first public college for women in America has seen many changes. In 1920, it became Mississippi State College for Women. The name was changed in 1974 to Mississippi University for Women, and men have been admitted since 1982.
The school today has an enrollment of about 2,300 students.
A new name to reflect the coed population will occur in the near future; in January, Reneau University, Welty-Reneau University and Waverley University were recommended to Limbert, who became embroiled in controversy after becoming MUW president in 2002.
Problems between Limbert and leaders of the Alumnae Association were settled last fall, when the state Supreme Court ruled the president had the authority to break ties with the group.
Today, “We have a new association that’s doing extremely well,” Limbert said. “It’s a group that’s very representative of our graduates, in that it’s females, males and minorities.”
The alumni flap “at this point is kind of over,” said Joshua Lee, a senior from Fayette, Ala., “but it’s definitely going to be of note” in the university’s history.
As for the name change, Lee said MUW should keep its current name and focus on women’s studies. Still,
“I’m going to be in one of the last classes of graduates that’s going to have MUW on their diploma,” he said, calling the anniversary party “a last hurrah.”
Despite everything MUW has endured, the Student Government Association president said it remains a wonderful place.
“It’s a school of excellence and a school of leadership,” said Kristen Barnes of Jackson. MUW, she said, “started all of my dreams.”
Too bad local media like this newspaper seems to publish whatever she says without utilizing the "fact-o-meter." Just one example: Limbert says males cannot be recruited to MUW with women in its name and current male students are embarrassed, yet the lone male student interviewed for this article believes the name should remain unchanged. Makes you wanna go, "Hmmmm."
I chide Ms. Miller for poor journalism after just one paragraph re: Dr. Limbert's quote that "things are going very, very well."
Where Ms. Miller is your journalistic sensibility? Do you not know or did you not take the time to research that this is not what Dr. Limbert has been saying for the last year ?
She's claimed problems with the original alumnae association, state funding cuts, and a decrease in enrollment because of the current name, as having kept her from making the W all that it could be. Now suddenly, everything is coming up roses?
And that ludicrous statement of yours that "A new name to reflect the coed population will occur in the near future..."
Do you know something the public doesn't? When did the IHL okay the name change? Did you also not know it has to be voted on by the Mississippi Legislature? Have they done this and told only YOU the results? Please, share that in a follow-up story.
I could go on with all the other "stuff" in your story but then, this is part of the reason print newspapers are dinosaurs and why simply moving online will not save them -- you've all become community cheerleaders instead of objective all-sides-of-the-story journalists.
Limbert's statement demands challenge if for no other reason than the fact that 36 states have cut higher education funding or proposed such cuts because they face massive, devastating budget deficits in this recession (reference: Center for Budget and Policy Priorities).
So thrill us with a follow-up on how Dr. Limbert has managed to make things go very, very well in this current business, political and social climate. I'm sure Ole Miss, Miss. State and Southern Miss would love to know, except for Dr. Martha Saunders who just got a $6 million donation check for USM. I believe she could rightfully say things are going very, very well.
I smell PR BS Ms. Miller. Why can't you?
Interesting that Limbert says enrollment is up when she has repeatedly said this could not happen with the present name.
BTW, if anyone's looked at the latest Foundation report, please show me the part that states where "giving is up".
LIMBERT SAYS: “We have a new [alumni] association that’s doing extremely well....It’s a group that’s very representative of our graduates...”
^^^ How the heck are we to know that?!?! Alums haven't heard JACK from this new association. Don't know WHO the officers and board are. Don't know what they are doing or what we need to do to join or be a part. MANY alums have asked MANY different people over MANY years now, and there's still silence &/or excuses from that little handpicked group. Bah!!!
Conversely....the group Limbert ousted, renamed Mississippi's First Alumnae Association, has been working, open, and getting the word out about what they have going on. This TRULY representative group of people (male/female, minority/non-minority, married/single, gay/straight) have NEVER STOPPED working on ways that they can support the W -- with or without being supported by the W's admin!
Yeah....count me on on the "Ghost Association." *eye roll*
For St. Patrick's Day, maybe Limbert needs to change her name to: FULL O'HOOEY. :P
POINT: if enrollment is up and giving is up, as Dr.Limbert is quoted as saying ...what's the big flap about changing the name? Throwing the baby out with the bath water is certainly not the next move to make!!!
POINT: Many, and I mean many, have asked the university sources to supply information about the "new" alumni association. So far, in two years or so, there hasn't been any. The original statement, when someone I know called many months ago, was that an alum had to "pay to play"...then haven't heard any more about that, nor any info about officers, by-laws, procedures, etc, etc, etc.How can you know if you want to join or not if you don't know what the organization is?
POINT: The name change, as I understand, is absolutely NOT a given. And this is not news. Dr. Limbert was crying name change when she rode in on the first train seven or so years ago. Give it a rest.
POINT: MUW is one of the jewels of Mississippi(not my phrase, either.) Why on earth, with explosive emphasis on women's issues and education and empowerment would anybody in their right mind want to eradicate an invaluable source of this kind?
BTW, I have seen info about Mississippi's First Alumnae Association! Goodness, these women are "blowin' and goin'!" I understand that this is the group that has served the W for the whole history of the school, or at least 100 years. What I have seen of their actions and expertise , so far, blows my mind. They could probably solve world problems...etc.
Well, bloggie, bloggie for now. Signed , The Queen V