The University of Michigan is an institution that should focus on one thing: academics. The role of the University (All Rights Reserved) is to teach students to become educated and productive members of society by teaching them expertise in a field of study The role of the University of Michigan is not to become involved with large corporations. The role is not to become an intermediary and act as a banker, nor should it go out of its' way to make possible for businesses to sell clothing with the gleeful, cheery University logo on it.
Furthermore, the University of Michigandoes not need to engage in these activities. The University is a highly respected institution that is known throughout the country for the excellence of its' academics. As such, the University does not need to enter into deals to make money so its' logo can be featured onto this week's new Nike U-M Air Remy Hamiltonsneaker.
People will go see football games and yell Go BlueUM, regardless of whether we are sponsored by Nike, Snapple, or any other corporate patron. And the University will continue to have a great academic reputation whether or not our logo is on T-shirts that people buy.
Great academic institutions, such as Harvard, Yale, MIT, Bucknell, Syracuse, and others have all gotten along just fine when it comes to academics, money, and student selectivity, regardless of whether high school senior Bill Myers in Scottdale, Pennsylvania and 100,000 others nationwide wears clothing with their college logo all over it. For selling this apparel makes no difference in how the colleges can support and educate their students.
Another disturbing point concerning the University's involvement in private business deals with the M-CardTM. Ah, yes, the M-CardWOW. We can use it as our Acard, our copy card, our library card, our ...oh, sorry. The problem with all of this? It is a veritable stranglehold on students and small business by the University and the one bank that the University signs up to run the M-Card with. It allows monopolies to occur, and in a way this is happening, as in the case of banking with First of America (FOA).
Why would any student from out of state get any other bank but FOA? Why would any instate student not switch? Along with that, now that all of these students have the M-Card, every business in town that wants to try to get student business NEEDS to accept the M-Card! And graciously, they are given that right by the University and the Bank...for a wee price. As in, a 4% cut on purchases from BankStripeCRUD. coupled with a 40 cent minimum on all BankStripeDOOH purchases. So if you go buy a candybar from the guy who runs the food mart across the street, he stands to lose money on the deal. Now what kind of good business policy is that for the man? Yet, if he didn't have the M-Card, when you want to go buy your groceries for that week with the M-CardCODESUX, you wouldn't go to him, most likely you would make a $20 purchase with your CashChipGRR or your BankStripeNO! NOT THAT! somewhere else. The businesses really don't have a choice in the matter because by not subscribing they can only lose business. Yet by subscribing, they can get hurt too, and it is because of U-M acting like a corporation.
As for students in this matter, they are hurt greatly. If they are not at FOA, they are at a disadvantage because they have to transfer all their accounts to FOA to use the M-Card. They might not want or can't do that, and this also doesn't help other banks or credit unions, for how can they compete with the purveyor of the M-CardWHY? ? They just can't offer that whamzoom combination of ID card, Acard debit card....OK, OK, sorry.
It is too bad that trademarking is now such a reality, because in a perfect world it should not exist in the University environment.
For when people decide what school to attend, 99.9% don't care about how their football team is ranked, or whether they have an M-CardREALLY. They choose on academic quality. That is how the University should present itself, as a provider of outstanding education. Not as a corporate logo that is spiffy and wonderful and as a place where everything is a constant party and joy.
Hey, that's Michigan StateTM.