# An open letter to The Bridge

As members of the Texas A&M international University community, we all must be concerned with what is happening at. our university.

Each person who is a member of the TAMIU community is here because of a conscious choice. If you are enrolled as a student, you have accepted the responsibilities that come with that enrollment. University educations re not a guaranteed entitlement. They are a precious privilege that must be treated as such. Being a student is not, and should not, be easy. It involves work, much of which is very difficult. When, as students, you rebel against this work, this potential knowledge, you cheat not only yourselves, but the entire university community.

While students are guilty of the whining, childish arguments against doing any real, challenging, meaningful work, the professors and administrators are guilty of bowing to the cries of a vocal student group. This bowing, this caving, has created an atmosphere of mediocrity which is unacceptable and intolerable. I know that if many of the professors and administrators were to honestly answer the question, "How do our course demands compare to other universities throughout the country? ", the answer would be they don't. I have heard professors say that they are forced to lower course demands and expectations because of student ability levels. However, This is counter-productive. When students continually see standards being lowered, they know that standards are flexible and can be lowered even more if additional complaints are voiced.

I urge all of you ho truly care about knowledge and the pursuit of excellence to take a stand against mediocrity by pledging to support the following:

1. High academic standards that compare with the paret university in College Station.

2. An honest, thorough investigation of what actually transpires in a particular course as compared to that same course catalog description.

3. A focus on content over form.

4. Automatic, one semester suspensions for any individuals knowingly inolvod in plagiarism.

I realize that this letter will do little to improve my popularity within the TAMIU community, but that is of little consequence to me. When I receive my degree fom TAMIU, I want it to symbolize more than, "I just put in my time and jumped through the appropriate hoops. "

Sincerely,

Judith A. Krommendyk