Author: Joe Abraham

One of the fascinating things about a University is the teeming, amoeboid dynamism. There are powerful, brilliant, enthusiastic people pulling the citadel in all directions of human study: arts, letters, sciences, and applied disciplines. So for a rapidly rising University with constrained resources, the question becomes 'Where is the low-hanging fruit? What should we focus on first?' After thinking about it for several years, I think we should focus on engineering.

On February 1, 2008, the Acadiana Educational Endowment launched an eZine covering the University of Louisiana. Reflecting back from our 3rd anniversary, we realize that we have seen and learned and done some things. And we have had some impact: in those three years, 56,000 unique visitors have visited our 'site, and have viewed over a quarter million pages.

Louisiana is rushing head-long into relying on graduation rates as a way to track educational effectiveness in the state's public universities. This may not be the best idea.

Lafayette is an oil town, and the Obama administration's recent moratorium on deep-water drilling has south Louisiana very concerned.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is very proud of his family's American success story. Why would he deny the people of the state he governs the same advantages he has had?

The Lafayette Utilities System is giving Lafayette the fastest community Intranet in the world. What might that mean for us? And should you put it in your home?

In the previous essay on creating a Community of Innovators, we talked about positive role models, and the importance of tolerating-- just allowing-- creativity, in families and in communities. Key to creating a Community of Innovators is not to discourage or destroy the creative spirit.

So what are the negative role models? Just what destroys innovation?

Recently at the Chamber of Commerce's 'Business Over Breakfast,' the Chamber announced a bold challenge to the Greater Lafayette community, comprising one goal, and one question: That Lafayette will be a Community of Innovators in 15 years; and What will that community look like?

UL alumnus Steve Oubre is drawing international attention for his work with 'Smart Growth,' particularly his designs for River Ranch here in Lafayette. He spoke with ultoday.com about his work.

Despite what civic, trade and government leaders tell us, Lafayette's #1 industry is not petroleum, health care, retail, or hospitality.

Wednesday night, Nightline airs a story of a Humane Society undercover videographer, showing "horrific" videos of primates at the UL New Iberia Research Center. The very next morning, the Humane Society announces that three Congressman are re-introducing a bill to abolish critical medical research. Is the Humane Society fabricating a story to further its political agenda?

For years, Louisiana has been sand-bagged by the NCAA, our conferences, game officials, and now the bowls. Is there a conspiracy here?

We build sports to build a University; we build a University to build a community. Tailgating is an opportunity to strengthen those relationships.

UL is entering a new era: a new administration, growing enrollments, increasing academic success and recognition, improving athletics and academic donations, and a host-city that has made it clear that we sit second to no one. Considering Louisiana's successes on the academic side, it seems clear that it is only a matter of time before our athletics jet forward, as well. But what does that mean?

In another essay considering the pluses, perils, and potential for college athletics, we look at the role that fans play in a successful program.

What metrics should we use to design a successful college sports program?

UL is welcoming a new administration, one that has transition committees re-examining the major facets of the University. One of those, predictably, is athletics. So I have a question for the Athletics Transition Committee: Should we continue our sports program at UL?

Trillions of dollars every year are spent worldwide on software, when free (and often superior) replacements are available for everyone to use.

Term limits throw out the baby with the bath water. What if there were a better way?

One of the constant complaints about alternative fuels is that they aren't economically feasible. They simply aren't competitive with petroleum without heavy government subsidies.

Who said the petroleum industry doesn't require government subsidies?