OPINIONS
Legend's View:
How fine is the line between right and wrong?
Welcome everyone to Enron Community College.
No, MCC did not officially change it’s name, though it may as well have, considering Mesa school policies have looked eerily similar to those of corrupt major corporations. With deceit and outright lies, Mesa school officials have attempted to cover-up and fabricate stories about missing money from the school’s athletic department.
Those who have read stories in the East Valley Tribune or Arizona Republic, are likely to be very disappointed by what they read involving the dishonesty of those in charge at MCC.
They have every right to be. A college, especially one the size of Mesa, has a responsibility to be an institution built on foundations of trust, honesty, and quality ethics. MCC officials have recently failed to uphold any of these foundations.
At the top of the controversy sits President Larry Christiansen, MCC’s highest official.
The most troubling part of all the allegations is that no school officials have taken it upon themselves to apologize or even make any explanation to the students for their suspicious actions. While the leaders of this school make it a point to help build responsible, morally minded individuals, behind the scenes these officials aren’t living by their own advice. It is foolish for administrators to expect their students to adhere to some mighty example to which they fall incredibly short.
In the Mesa Legend’s meeting with President Christiansen, he did little to explain his actions or address how he is going to react to students’ concerns that their leaders cannot be trusted.
It seems as though what the students think is less important to Dr. Christiansen than clearing his name from the fire pit of controversy that is burning at the country’s largest community college.
At the end of the Legend’s meeting with the President, Christiansen stated, “It’s not about right or wrong, it is about handling criticism.” This statement only adds to the foul way that Christiansen and the school have handled the accusations.
It is absolutely about right and wrong, and MCC administration has done nothing right with the way they have handled the heat placed on the school. They owe it to the students, faculty, and surrounding community to apologize, or if nothing else offer an explanation for their part in the controversy.
Administrators, stop hiding in the corner, stop side-stepping the issues, stop worrying about how you handle the criticism, which at this point is unavoidable, and make things right at our school.
So, yes, it is about right and wrong.