2008 Woodie Awards
Good luck Dr. Glenn, Sam would be proud
Andy Harper
Issue date: 6/18/08 Section: Opinions
Summer fever has caught on at Sidelines. With a lack of editorial presence, we decided that I should just write a letter in lieu of editorial board.
There was a time that I used to look forward to summer, because it's very presence reeked of vacation and relaxation. Not so much anymore. Since coming to college, I, like so many of my peers, have spent every summer session taking classes.
I figure that I'm not going to get summer break upon graduation, so I might as well get used to the feeling now.
But despite the low-key atmosphere of summertime, I always feel uneasy, because summer is also a time of change. Children spend their time transitioning into their next grade, fiscal years will end and election season is fast approaching.
This will probably be one of the most awkward summer transitions I've been through during my time at MTSU. Many positions have yet to be filled on campus and worse, we are losing some of our community's most valuable individuals.
In the fall of 2005, Sidelines ran a satire issue in celebration of Halloween. In the issue, there was a small, satirical news brief we ran about Bob Glenn, vice president of Student Affairs and vice provost for enrollment and academic services. Though the paper overall was not exactly accepted with open arms by the administration, the news brief about Dr. Glenn seemed to be well received.
"Bob Glenn, vice-president for student affairs, announced his resignation yesterday and will be leaving the university to reunite himself with his Muppet family.
'I need to get back to my roots,' Glenn told Sideways, 'and rediscover the life in show business I left behind as a little boy.'
Glenn, fathered by famous Muppet Sam the Eagle, is expected to rejoin his relatives on the upcoming ABC miniseries 'America's Next Muppet.'
'We're really excited to have him back,' said Kermit the Frog, who calmed down after running around cheering loudly. 'Bobby Eagle was so much fun to have around. We couldn't imagine life without him.'
No announcement has been made yet on Glenn's replacement, nor has an interim vice-president been named."
Anybody who has ever met Bob Glenn should be able to easily see the comparison between him and Sam the Eagle. As for myself, this was my first introduction to Dr. Glenn - an interesting first impression to say the least.
Over the years, my interaction with Dr. Glenn has been far from limited. As campus news editor, I was the obnoxious journalism student who was, and still is, too nosey for his own good. Glenn was the big administrator who was always ready for an interview and always prepared with an answer to any question in a quick, concise and professional manner. Honestly, I never thought he would ever leave this campus. In fact, I was pretty sure he would end up like Professor Binns from Harry Potter, continuing his day-to-day MTSU activities and still administering, despite existing only in specter form.
Throughout his years, Glenn has witnessed the best and worst of MTSU. I was very impressed with his handling of the Kevin Sisco tragedy at Cummings Hall. Dealing with college journalists is one thing, but dealing with mass local press coverage is something completely different.
Yet, once again, he was there, prepared as ever to answer questions and herd the messy mob of press, students and faculty. A line of reporters, ready to ask him questions, formed quickly. After a twenty minute wait, I finally began asking my questions, when this uppity reporter interrupted our conversation. Dr. Glenn turned away from me, looked at the reporter and said something to the effect of, "Since you're a journalist, you should be able to observe that I'm standing here talking to this gentleman." He then turned back to me and heartily smiled.
That is the only time I have ever seen Bob Glenn smile. What did you expect - he was raised by Sam the Eagle.
Andy Harper is a senior journalism major here at MTSU.
There was a time that I used to look forward to summer, because it's very presence reeked of vacation and relaxation. Not so much anymore. Since coming to college, I, like so many of my peers, have spent every summer session taking classes.
I figure that I'm not going to get summer break upon graduation, so I might as well get used to the feeling now.
But despite the low-key atmosphere of summertime, I always feel uneasy, because summer is also a time of change. Children spend their time transitioning into their next grade, fiscal years will end and election season is fast approaching.
This will probably be one of the most awkward summer transitions I've been through during my time at MTSU. Many positions have yet to be filled on campus and worse, we are losing some of our community's most valuable individuals.
In the fall of 2005, Sidelines ran a satire issue in celebration of Halloween. In the issue, there was a small, satirical news brief we ran about Bob Glenn, vice president of Student Affairs and vice provost for enrollment and academic services. Though the paper overall was not exactly accepted with open arms by the administration, the news brief about Dr. Glenn seemed to be well received.
"Bob Glenn, vice-president for student affairs, announced his resignation yesterday and will be leaving the university to reunite himself with his Muppet family.
'I need to get back to my roots,' Glenn told Sideways, 'and rediscover the life in show business I left behind as a little boy.'
Glenn, fathered by famous Muppet Sam the Eagle, is expected to rejoin his relatives on the upcoming ABC miniseries 'America's Next Muppet.'
'We're really excited to have him back,' said Kermit the Frog, who calmed down after running around cheering loudly. 'Bobby Eagle was so much fun to have around. We couldn't imagine life without him.'
No announcement has been made yet on Glenn's replacement, nor has an interim vice-president been named."
Anybody who has ever met Bob Glenn should be able to easily see the comparison between him and Sam the Eagle. As for myself, this was my first introduction to Dr. Glenn - an interesting first impression to say the least.
Over the years, my interaction with Dr. Glenn has been far from limited. As campus news editor, I was the obnoxious journalism student who was, and still is, too nosey for his own good. Glenn was the big administrator who was always ready for an interview and always prepared with an answer to any question in a quick, concise and professional manner. Honestly, I never thought he would ever leave this campus. In fact, I was pretty sure he would end up like Professor Binns from Harry Potter, continuing his day-to-day MTSU activities and still administering, despite existing only in specter form.
Throughout his years, Glenn has witnessed the best and worst of MTSU. I was very impressed with his handling of the Kevin Sisco tragedy at Cummings Hall. Dealing with college journalists is one thing, but dealing with mass local press coverage is something completely different.
Yet, once again, he was there, prepared as ever to answer questions and herd the messy mob of press, students and faculty. A line of reporters, ready to ask him questions, formed quickly. After a twenty minute wait, I finally began asking my questions, when this uppity reporter interrupted our conversation. Dr. Glenn turned away from me, looked at the reporter and said something to the effect of, "Since you're a journalist, you should be able to observe that I'm standing here talking to this gentleman." He then turned back to me and heartily smiled.
That is the only time I have ever seen Bob Glenn smile. What did you expect - he was raised by Sam the Eagle.
Andy Harper is a senior journalism major here at MTSU.
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