Philly Phiasco?
A Patron's Perspective on Philly Campus Cuts
Samantha Moore
Issue date: 2/25/10 Section: Opinion
A year in Philadelphia equates to a lifetime not in Grantham.
Not exactly sure what I mean to convey here, except that Philly Campus is an entirely unique and invigorating experience compared to Messiah main.
I am an MCPC-er at heart. I not only value my time in Temple University's classrooms-- both in the city, and even in my Frat-music-infused dorm room--but I value the physical space labeled "MCPC" (Messiah College Philadelphia Campus).
Debbie Peterson, MCPC's Contextual Learning Coordinator, recalls the sentimental attachment alumni feel toward the space. In fall 2008, alumni from all years visited MCPC to celebrate the campus's 40th birthday. As many reunited with their long lost, 19th century row house dorms, Peterson says just seeing the same carpet (yes, that carpet is, shall we say, antique) made many giddy and warm.
Now that Messiah College has decided to sell the MCPC property to Temple University, rent a portion back, and cap enrollment at 40, students--current, past, and very past--are feeling a loss. Anxieties flew when Kim Phipps sent word of the budget cuts taking shape. Status updates such as "Messiah College Philadelphia Campus is going to die. Major fail, Messiah. FAIL." and "losers. At least I got to go before they killed it." doused our Facebook news feeds. A disapproving mushroom cloud, both here and at MCPC, swelled.
I hopped on to the disapproving cloud train, because my gut reaction to "budget cuts" is usually antagonism--resentment toward big politics, even/especially at lil' Messiah College. But the more I understand the big picture, the less hostility I feel toward the changes.
Provost Randy Basinger says his main goal in altering the program was to "reaffirm [its] purpose and value...to achieve good ends with more economically sustainable means."
He explains that MCPC's role 10 or 15 years ago was much different than its role today: more and more students attend MCPC for enrichment than for their major or minor requirements. Moreover, MCPC was one of the first and few options to study off-campus. Today, the Philly campus is "one among 40 some sites."
Not exactly sure what I mean to convey here, except that Philly Campus is an entirely unique and invigorating experience compared to Messiah main.
I am an MCPC-er at heart. I not only value my time in Temple University's classrooms-- both in the city, and even in my Frat-music-infused dorm room--but I value the physical space labeled "MCPC" (Messiah College Philadelphia Campus).
Debbie Peterson, MCPC's Contextual Learning Coordinator, recalls the sentimental attachment alumni feel toward the space. In fall 2008, alumni from all years visited MCPC to celebrate the campus's 40th birthday. As many reunited with their long lost, 19th century row house dorms, Peterson says just seeing the same carpet (yes, that carpet is, shall we say, antique) made many giddy and warm.
Now that Messiah College has decided to sell the MCPC property to Temple University, rent a portion back, and cap enrollment at 40, students--current, past, and very past--are feeling a loss. Anxieties flew when Kim Phipps sent word of the budget cuts taking shape. Status updates such as "Messiah College Philadelphia Campus is going to die. Major fail, Messiah. FAIL." and "losers. At least I got to go before they killed it." doused our Facebook news feeds. A disapproving mushroom cloud, both here and at MCPC, swelled.
I hopped on to the disapproving cloud train, because my gut reaction to "budget cuts" is usually antagonism--resentment toward big politics, even/especially at lil' Messiah College. But the more I understand the big picture, the less hostility I feel toward the changes.
Provost Randy Basinger says his main goal in altering the program was to "reaffirm [its] purpose and value...to achieve good ends with more economically sustainable means."
He explains that MCPC's role 10 or 15 years ago was much different than its role today: more and more students attend MCPC for enrichment than for their major or minor requirements. Moreover, MCPC was one of the first and few options to study off-campus. Today, the Philly campus is "one among 40 some sites."
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