From the President Often, I tell Dennie Burke that she can “turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse,” and that may be what happened in the article she wrote about me for this publicati<strong>on</strong>. I often get credit for many accomplishments for which others have been resp<strong>on</strong>sible. I am an idea pers<strong>on</strong> and I’m known to push, but it takes many people to turn a visi<strong>on</strong> into reality. A number of people have expressed c<strong>on</strong>cern about what will happen at APSU after I leave— the answer is relatively simple: The same people who worked to move this <strong>University</strong> to the next level will c<strong>on</strong>tinue that forward progress under new leadership. An an<strong>on</strong>ymous story about geese illustrates this truth: Geese going south for the winter fly in V formati<strong>on</strong>s, and as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in V formati<strong>on</strong>, the whole flock adds at least 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew <strong>on</strong> its own. Similarly, people who share a comm<strong>on</strong> directi<strong>on</strong> and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling <strong>on</strong> the thrust of <strong>on</strong>e another. That is what has happened at The <strong>Peay</strong> for the past seven years. The story c<strong>on</strong>tinues: When a goose falls out of formati<strong>on</strong>, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it al<strong>on</strong>e and quickly gets back into formati<strong>on</strong> to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in fr<strong>on</strong>t. Undoubtedly, <strong>Austin</strong> <strong>Peay</strong> faculty and staff will stay in formati<strong>on</strong> with those who are headed the same way. And the story c<strong>on</strong>cludes: When the head goose gets tired, it rotates back in the wing and another goose flies the point. It is sensible to take turns doing demanding jobs with people or with geese flying south. As hard as it is for me to “let go” of <strong>Austin</strong> <strong>Peay</strong>, I know it is time for me to give some<strong>on</strong>e else a turn as president. I can leave with c<strong>on</strong>fidence that our faculty and staff care about this very special <strong>University</strong> and will c<strong>on</strong>tinue the work we began together. Like huge redwood trees that gain strength and nutriti<strong>on</strong> from a comm<strong>on</strong> root system that feeds <strong>on</strong>e and all, our faculty and staff will find their strength in the joining of their roots—their comm<strong>on</strong> sense of missi<strong>on</strong> and purpose. Presidents come and go, but the universities they serve linger l<strong>on</strong>g. Tennessee poet Will Allen Dromgoole <strong>on</strong>ce penned a questi<strong>on</strong> to an old man who was building a bridge across a chasm he had just crossed: “You will never again pass this way. . .Why build you this bridge at eventide?” The builder lifted his grey head and resp<strong>on</strong>ded, “Good friend, in the path I have come there followeth after me today a youth whose feet must pass this way.” The poet goes <strong>on</strong> to say that the chasm that was “nought to me” might be a pitfall to the youth. And so, he says, “Good friend, I am building this bridge for him.” As I near the end of my tenure at APSU, my hope is that I have been a bridge builder—that I built a bridge from the past to the future for <strong>Austin</strong> <strong>Peay</strong>. I challenge each of our alumni and supporters to join the other bridge builders at <strong>Austin</strong> <strong>Peay</strong>. You are a part of the powerful V formati<strong>on</strong> that propels this <strong>University</strong>, and your <strong>on</strong>going support is absolutely critical to the c<strong>on</strong>tinued progress of <strong>Austin</strong> <strong>Peay</strong>. How can you help? First, you can get behind the next APSU president in the same way you did for me. I must admit most of the time I was invigorated by the unexpected problems I faced at The <strong>Peay</strong>, but at other times the tremendous support I felt from the community, the campus and especially our alumni strengthened me. Sec<strong>on</strong>d, you can help recruit students—send us prospect names, bring prospective students to visit campus and just spread the word about your alma mater. Lastly, you can provide financial support. <strong>State</strong> dollars will never be adequate to make this <strong>University</strong> the best it can be—that will take generous and <strong>on</strong>going c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>s from those whose lives are indelibly linked to <strong>Austin</strong> <strong>Peay</strong>. You <strong>on</strong>ce crossed a bridge to <strong>Austin</strong> <strong>Peay</strong> and crossed <strong>on</strong>ce again as you left the <strong>University</strong> to a successful career and a prosperous life. I encourage you to build bridges to <strong>Austin</strong> <strong>Peay</strong> for others, even though you may never need to cross those same bridges again yourself. You are safe <strong>on</strong> the other side with your degree, but others still need a bridge to span the chasm that separates them from a college educati<strong>on</strong> and a better life. Support your new president. Send The <strong>Peay</strong> new students. Make a generous c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>. Be a bridge builder. 2 <strong>Austin</strong> <strong>Peay</strong>
Bill Persinger Spring 2007 3
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