My experience in five years at Northeastern University has been nothing short of amazing. I have met some amazing people and solidified many friendships that will stand the test of time. Northeastern and its teachings have put me into a position to be a successful and contributing member of society, and in the last five years, every cent I have earned came directly from something I have learned here.
All the fluff aside, I can’t stand this place. I joined Northeastern’s Athletic Training Education Program (ATEP), one of the leading athletic training programs in the country, that has been at the forefront of innovation in the field for over 50 years. They cut it. I joined Northeastern’s football team. They cut it. Don’t be blinded by the laundry list of reasons for either program ending – neither brought in enough money to the university, plain and simple.
The ATEP here was, for a long time, one of the top programs in the country. Our athletic training students graduated with more experience and a better educational background than the vast majority of others – which made them leaders in the field. Students provided clinical assistance to numerous high schools, colleges and universities in the area, including Harvard, Lesley, Emerson, UMass Boston, Weston High School, Roxbury Community College, and Northeastern itself. Positions that were once filled by anywhere between 70-90 students are now vacant – and all because we generated sparse revenue for the university from research endeavors. Apparently $50,000 per year out of each of our pockets wasn’t enough.
The football team struggled in its last years, without question. The Athletics Department justified its decision mainly by citing poor attendance and lack of student interest, among other issues. One could question if this was merely coincidental, but the “fan shuttles” rarely showed up at all to escort students to games during what was otherwise a rain-filled season. The Athletics Department at multiple times throughout the season reported to meetings, where Director Peter Roby told us that “without question, the Athletics Department is behind you.” The day the program ended – the very day after our last game (a victory) – Roby called us to a team meeting. Sentiment was that we would be getting a long awaited new head coach.Guess again; “I have made the recommendation to end the football program at Northeastern.” Silence fell over the room. The next words that came out of anyone’s mouth after a minute of awkward silence was “What can we do to stop this?” To which Roby responded: “Actually, the board approved the decision earlier this morning.” The entire shady situation had been done behind closed doors – there was no resistance. No resistance was possible. Roby was then escorted to his office by a campus police officer where he stayed and would not allow anyone in to talk to him. I will take the following image with me for the rest of my life – a gym full of 87 fully grown, large men, crying.
Allow me to reiterate: I hate this school.
Believe it or not, I’ve actually come to peace with both of these situations, as unfortunate and unbelievable as they still are. In fact, I probably would have gone much longer without registering a written grievance as I am obviously doing now. However, the straw that broke the camel’s back is that after all this, after 5 years of paying $50,000+ a year to this university, the university has the nerve to call me asking for a donation. At no point during my college career have I felt that Northeastern has “had my back,” and now they “need” my support. So take this as my final answer, Northeastern: Until the day I die, I will never, ever, give you another cent. No matter how successful I become, no matter if I win the lottery, you will never see a dime from me.
Money makes the world go ’round, I guess. I suppose that in order to find room in the budget for President Joseph Aoun’s now seven figure salary (which is steadily approaching double his 2006 salary) and the 16 percent raise given to the 18 senior vice presidents of the university, these decisions were all justified. While our programs are scrounging for money Aoun is living the high life.
President Aoun, I’d like you to justify why you and other top administrators deserve outlandish salary increases each year.
– Greg Ux is a senior athletic training major.
