The University Of Alberta Not Thinking Again

Rory J. Koopmans, B. Admin., Ward A, Edmonton Public School Trustee Candidate, Woodcroft (Westmount) Public Library Terminal #XI, Edmonton, Alberta

July IInd, MMX

Hon. David G. Hancock, QC, MLA, Minister of Education, Progressive Conservative, Edmonton-Whitemud

Dear David:

I realize that this set of questions is more in Doug Horner's line of thinking, but I'll still ask you.

A. How does it make sense IV the University Of Alberta to rip out the landlines of the Professor's when they are pouring millions into potentially rebranding the school with a new seal & ad campaign? David, landlines do not break down in a crisis whereas cellphones do. Landlines are run on phone coaxial cables separate from power lines and other utility's. So if a person is using a payphone, the dialtone will still work, even if the digital display gets its power knocked out during a blackout. Whereas cellphones can lose charge & then in a blackout can't be recharged since there is no power to charge them. Plus these University Professors raise buckets of cash with their personalized phone conversations to donors and friends each year that keep their departments from going on total life support.

B. Why David is the Orange Alumni Magazine converting to being only an online magazine? I know there are printing costs, but I would argue there are many thousands of older U Of A alumni who do not have email addresses and still work with letters and telephone contact. By doing this the University Of Alberta Alumni Association is cutting its own fundraising throat. Potentially losing a few million a year from folks who want to contribute with cheques in the mail rather then online donations. It seems rather shortsighted.

Regards,

Rory

Source: The Edmonton Journal, Elise Stolte.