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Where's our Stephen Ross?

Billionaire Micky Arison attended The U but dropped out. He wipes his *** with $200 million...would be nice if he let us hold something.
 
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Ernie McCracken said:
As an alum, I can offer my two cents. This is just my own opinion, not sure if things have changed in the past 10 years, not sure if others had the same experience, etc.

Being a small, private school, you would think that the University of Miami would have a more "family atmosphere" with respect to its alumni network. At a large, public institution, you expect to be treated like a number once you graduate. Not at a little school like Miami. Not for what it costs.

However, that was exactly my experience.

When I graduated, I felt the school wanted nothing more to do with me. They did nothing to help me find employment right out of college. Sure, there was a little office with a couple inexperieced students who would help you look over your resume by correcting the grammar and so forth, and sure, there was a job expo on campus which lasted a day or two, but that was the extent of it.

The alumni network was nonexistent and did nothing to help me find my first job. The University itself did nothing but give me the cold shoulder. That was my experience, and it did leave a bit of a sour taste in my mouth considering how much a UM education costs.

I feel they should do a lot more to help graduating students land jobs in their desired fields. I feel the alumni network should be more engaged and more willing to help new grads get their foot in the door. That was woefully lacking when I graduated.

As it turns out, I ended up getting a very good job, and I make a nice little six figure salary. Somehow, the U found out about it, and NOW they call. NOW the alumni network is interested.

They're quick to come at you, hat in hand, once they see they can get something from you. But when it's their turn to give, they're nowhere to be found.

For a small, private university that calls its alumni network "family," that wasn't the experience I had.

I think UM can do a lot to improve on this front. And maybe they already have, who knows. It's been 10 years since I graduated. I just think they need to do a better job of cultivating those alumni relationships early and often.... not just when the alum has "made it," or it comes across as shallow and phoney and...well.... South Florida materialistic.

UM as a private school can and should develop very tight alumni network, they just don't. If they improved in this area, though, they would find the coffers open up to them not only on the football side, but the academic side as well.
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As much as I love my University, this same story happens way too often.

The second you graduate, it's almost like they cut ties with you, unless they're asking you for money.

I'm sure UM isn't the only university that does this either (just imagine at a large public school like U***).

It's quite unfortunate.
 
I did not have the same experience as Ernie with the law school. Last year I was looking for a career change, called the career planning office and they were extremely helpful. I continue to get regular check ins from the person I was working with to see how things are going. I give a little here and there to both the Hurricane Club and the law school, but am not a high roller donor.

I agree that the alumni network needs to be stronger, but also look at it as if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. I am more part of the problem. I'll help anyone that needs it, but also made an attempt to be involved in my local area, but the others involved annoyed me to the point where I'd rather watch the games at home or in person than a game watch.

I'm in my 30s and would rather watch the game with the crew cursing wearing camos and sporting the tattoos (no, not the wiggers from the other thread), than the gray beards talking about the old times.

Not all the fault lies with the school.
 
sadly - same experience as Ernie

doesnt change my love for UM - but def makes me less likely to donate -- the way I see it - My Family already "Donated"
 
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Ernie McCracken said:
As an alum, I can offer my two cents. This is just my own opinion, not sure if things have changed in the past 10 years, not sure if others had the same experience, etc.

Being a small, private school, you would think that the University of Miami would have a more "family atmosphere" with respect to its alumni network. At a large, public institution, you expect to be treated like a number once you graduate. Not at a little school like Miami. Not for what it costs.

However, that was exactly my experience.

When I graduated, I felt the school wanted nothing more to do with me. They did nothing to help me find employment right out of college. Sure, there was a little office with a couple inexperieced students who would help you look over your resume by correcting the grammar and so forth, and sure, there was a job expo on campus which lasted a day or two, but that was the extent of it.

The alumni network was nonexistent and did nothing to help me find my first job. The University itself did nothing but give me the cold shoulder. That was my experience, and it did leave a bit of a sour taste in my mouth considering how much a UM education costs.

I feel they should do a lot more to help graduating students land jobs in their desired fields. I feel the alumni network should be more engaged and more willing to help new grads get their foot in the door. That was woefully lacking when I graduated.

As it turns out, I ended up getting a very good job, and I make a nice little six figure salary. Somehow, the U found out about it, and NOW they call. NOW the alumni network is interested.

They're quick to come at you, hat in hand, once they see they can get something from you. But when it's their turn to give, they're nowhere to be found.

For a small, private university that calls its alumni network "family," that wasn't the experience I had.

I think UM can do a lot to improve on this front. And maybe they already have, who knows. It's been 10 years since I graduated. I just think they need to do a better job of cultivating those alumni relationships early and often.... not just when the alum has "made it," or it comes across as shallow and phoney and...well.... South Florida materialistic.

UM as a private school can and should develop very tight alumni network, they just don't. If they improved in this area, though, they would find the coffers open up to them not only on the football side, but the academic side as well.
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as far as jobs, the school has a HireaCane website with job postings, resume reviews, and more. they always send emails about networking events in south florida, as well. when i graduated, i found em to remain in contact w me a lot and they always send info regarding campus happenings and alumni events in the city they have u registered in. you havent been there in the last 10 years so things have changed since then. i graduated from there 10 and this is what is happening now vs what u experienced
 
I have a similar story to Ernie, I'm a school of Education (sports admin.) Alum 2008. Internships in athletics were hard to come by, no real comm. between the Spo Ad. program and athletic dept. **** shame considering our athletic success. I'm now headed back to school for my Ph.D after being unable to find a job in sports.
 
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"I agree that the alumni network needs to be stronger, but also look at it as if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. I am more part of the problem. I'll help anyone that needs it, but also made an attempt to be involved in my local area, but the others involved annoyed me to the point where I'd rather watch the games at home or in person than a game watch. " This BS HAPPENS WAY TOO OFTEN. I'm made to feel like a wigger cause I'd much rather hang w/the tatted **** drunk crew than the crumudgeons who seemingly idolized Pres. Foote. There doesn't seem to be too much middle ground, Miami has alums w/money but the passion of a Phil Knight is what's missing. I laugh at the "Thug U" comments cause the school admin. is stuffier than most realize.
 
Angry Ibis said:
I did not have the same experience as Ernie with the law school. Last year I was looking for a career change, called the career planning office and they were extremely helpful. I continue to get regular check ins from the person I was working with to see how things are going. I give a little here and there to both the Hurricane Club and the law school, but am not a high roller donor.

I agree that the alumni network needs to be stronger, but also look at it as if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. I am more part of the problem. I'll help anyone that needs it, but also made an attempt to be involved in my local area, but the others involved annoyed me to the point where I'd rather watch the games at home or in person than a game watch.

I'm in my 30s and would rather watch the game with the crew cursing wearing camos and sporting the tattoos (no, not the wiggers from the other thread), than the gray beards talking about the old times.

Not all the fault lies with the school.
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I don't want to make a big issue of it, but I do want to bring up one point. A strong alumni network is what makes a Harvard a Harvard, or a Yale a Yale, or, for that matter, what gives any other ivy league institution it's core advantage over other institutions. When a Harvard man graduates from Harvard, other Harvard alumni go out of their way to get him a good job. That sets up a close-knit network where generation after generation goes to the same school, where success breeds success, etc.

I help you when you're up-and-coming, and then you give back when you're established. That's the circle.

At Miami, we didn't have that when I graduated. If Donna Shalala is making strides in that direction, then I find that to be sensible and encouraging to hear, but it wasn't the case a decade ago. When you graduated, you were on your own. The link, in a sense, which is so strong at the ivy league institutions, was essentially severed at graduation.

In a sense, Miami was ****ing away it's #1 long term asset, it's alumni, in favor of a short term gain (not having to invest in broke recent grads). Sure, you can say that recent grads are responsible for their own success, and you're right. You can't expect anything from anyone. However, that's not the formula for success, if you look at the Harvards and the Stanfords of the world. Those guys don't go it on their own, the alumni networks are undeniably invaluable.

On a related note, FOOTBALL is the one thing Miami has which can bring its alumni back to Jesus, so to speak. As an alumni, I never feel like more of a 'Cane than when the football team is going in the right direction. Otherwise, I'm really not ever too interested in what the U is doing, nor am I paying any attention. The football causes me to pay attention, and if I'm paying attention, that's the only way I'll ever donate. It's not the Harvard model, but it can be a pretty **** good band aid.

So that, in my opinion, is the strongest argument the University has for increasing its emphasis on football.
 
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everytime you go to a dolphins game, remember, your money is going to the university of michigan football program.
 
Shalala, the great fundraiser (and football expert) should have maybe talked to him? ?????
 
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MedleyCane said:
SFbayCane said:
everytime you go to a dolphins game, remember, your money is going to the university of michigan football program.
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QUOTE]

Exactly!
And yet a lot of our Cane fans support both the Fins and Marlins.

They cheered "Tim Tebow Day" at Joe Robbie, and FSU Day at Marlins Park, so you think those Canes fans will draw the line now? LOL! They will be at every Phins and Marlins game they can, saying "Thank you, can I have some more **** in my mouth?"

I grew up a Dolphins fan, and disowned them when they signed Marcus Vick. Canes fans who follow teams that spit on them are NOT real Canes fans. :)
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Canemang said:
We had our Ross with Cannon Smith (dad owns Fed -Ex).

Should have kept him around just for daddy's money.
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I gotta disagree with you about that one... Cannon was a spoiled brat and was not a very good QB. His dad probably would've done some sort of "power move" to make sure his son would've played. Also, 'daddy warbucks' is more indebted to the city of Memphis and the University of Memphis than he would've been to Miami.

Our "Stephen Ross" comes to Miami wearing a football uniform. It seems that way to me. Some of Miami's biggest donors have come from NFL U.
 
Stephen Ross donated a new field and scoreboard to my high school alma mater, Miami Beach. So, he's 1% less douchey in my book for it, but still doing a 99% awful job with the Fish and the whole stadium situation. If they start winning again, he'll find the locals much more receptive to pitching in, as opposed to supporting a losing franchise.
 
The Miller family (Lennar) gave the med school $100 mil. In the grand scheme, that's a much better use of money than donating a pretty stadium.
 
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