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LETTERS

By D Magazine |

I want to compliment Ruth Fitzgibbons on her September Editor’s Page [“Racial Politics and Public Education”]. She put it more succinctly than have a couple of years of newspaper glop. It’s a tragedy that we’re losing Linus Wright. The system can very likely only go down after him.

Could Ora Lee Watson do a statement for you on what she means by “evidence that Macks tend to learn relationally rather than malytically”? Could she explain what she neans by “relationally”? I have never seen he word used in that context before.

Abbott Sparks

President, Energy Communications, Inc.

Dallas



In Re: The Law and Lawyers



I found Chris Tucker’s narrow view of the legal profession, as well as his one-sided reference to the recent Delta Airlines case, quite disturbing [“Parting Shot,” September] . Witnesses in any court of law must swear to uphold the “whole truth” before testifying. This oath not only allows, but demands that no details germane to a case-even unpleasant ones-be glossed over or concealed. The plaintiff in the Delta case asked for over $8 million (a large amount in anyone’s pocketbook) from Delta, and the airline has every right to defend itself. If the truth was that “Aunt Sylvia,” as Tucker calls her, had no affection for the husband who was suddenly worth $8 million to her; and if the truth was that the preponderance of the evidence indicated that she would have used the money to support not herself but her drug habit, then Delta’s lawyers have a duty to present those truths to the jury.

Another aspect of Tucker’s opinion is frightening in its implications for what has already become a litigious society. He sarcastically chides Delta’s lawyers for “hoping to save poor Delta some money” by their “disgraceful behavior.” The implication is that Delta is a huge corporation with lots of money, so why not stick it to them whenever we can. Eight million dollars, coupled with all the adverse publicity that comes with dredging up last year’s crash in a courtroom, is a pretty heavy price for Delta to pay. Tucker unfortunately neglected to mention how “Aunt Sylvia’s” lawyers also “hacked away at the characters” of Delta Airlines. Maybe Tucker sees the Delta case as an example of the common man vs. the evil corporation; in any case, whether or not poor Delta saves money depends not on the lawyers but the jury, a detail he ignores.

Owen P. Martikan

Dallas



Glum Alums



Sally Giddens’s article, “In Search of the B-School Badge” [September] was irresponsible journalism. Of particular offense to me personally is the brief, but thorough, put-down of the MBA program at East Texas State University. In addition to being grossly inaccurate, Giddens implies that the students and the quality of the education offered at ETSU are inferior. She reports no value in an MBA from ETSU and tells readers to disregard this program. It is clear that Giddens needs more information and less bias.

In May 1985,[ received my BBA, graduating summa cum laude from Kent State University in Ohio. I looked at several graduate programs before deciding to attend ETSU. The AACSB accreditation, program flexibility, and electives offered by ETSU were important. I have been able to structure a program that meets my needs.

The small number of students in the program at ETSU has turned out to be one of the greatest advantages. The individual attention and concern for the development of students is a real plus. This year I will be working with a faculty member doing organizational research and consulting. At a larger university, I may not have had this opportunity at the master’s level.

This summer at the national conference of the American Society for Personnel Administration, I was one of two students awarded the ASPA/William Olsten Scholarship. This $3,000 honor is given annually to two students pursuing a master’s degree in human resources management. The graduate program is a consideration in the competition. Personally, I consider the award validation of my program at ETSU.

Kathryn Jones

Commerce



Your article was biased in that it failed to discuss any of the positive aspects of an MBA from ETSU. The facilities are particularly convenient for those individuals living in the eastern and northeastern portion of the Metroplex. This convenience includes the option of taking classes on Saturday in Commerce. While the author did not place any significance on schools having AACSB (American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business) accreditation, the fact is that such a designation assures a certain degree of quality. In addition, if the AACSB is of no consequence, why do so many of the major institutions maintain their affiliation?

It is true that ETSU has relatively few students in its MBA program, but contrary to the author’s belief of that being a negative feature. I consider it to be quite positive. The smaller program allows for more individualized attention.

R.R. Miracle, President

MBA Alumni Association

East Texas State University

Mesquite



Your article was not near the article that it could have been had Giddens taken the time to do the proper research and investigation that the topic deserved. Many vital areas were totally ignored or glossed over with gross generalizations and unsubstantiated facts. The article was of little value to the reader interested in an MBA degree.

One of the first problems with the article was the comparisons made with Eastern schools. Comparing Harvard’s growth with Dallas area MBA programs is not a valid comparison. Harvard is at a point where it does not need or desire to increase its enrollment because it has the status that all schools desire-a national reputation for excellence. Texas schools in general have not existed long enough to build such a reputation.

Using the Brecker and Merryman Inc. survey was a clever but unrealistic ploy. Where were the 250 executives of the nation’s largest employers located? Surely not in New York where the consulting firm was located. When statistics are used, they need to be used properly and kept in perspective. If they aren’t, then people tend to read untrue things into them to fit their individual purposes. Using this one survey to contend that Dallas area MBA programs have an identity problem is absurd.

Joe Christian

MBA student at ETSU



Since you asked, here are a few of the companies surveyed by Brecker and Merry-man, with their headquarters: Kimberly-Clark Corporation-Dallas; Shell Oil Company-Houston; Humana Inc.-Louisville, Kentucky; Allied Corporation-Mor-rislown, New Jersey; General Motors Corp.-Detroit, Michigan; Northern Telecom-Nashville. Tennessee.



Now you tell me! I have been working on my MBA degree from Dallas Baptist University for the past two years, all to find out the program doesn’t exist.

Of course, considering the hatchet job you did on some of the other schools, maybe the omission was a blessing in disguise.

Sharon Blake

Arlington

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