The challenge was not so much to beat McCormick, as it was to find the strongest plan that he could support. Know your friends. While the ASUW, the GPSS, alumni groups and the faculty senate have no official power over the president, they are constituencies that he doesn't want to piss off all at once. Another round of tuition increases looms in Olympia. None of these battles will be identical to the struggle to increase diversity, but nonetheless there are lessons here.
Students can and do win.
Take leadership, do your homework, be inclusive, take the long view, know your enemies, know your friends and get to work. Richard L. McCormick, President During the spring quarter, several incidents at the UW caused some members of our community to feel unwelcome and heightened concerns about our campus climate in general, and racial climate in particular. I am writing to ask for your help as we develop and launch a series of efforts to improve that climate. In the years ahead, and especially in the next academic year, this University will place a high priority on ensuring that our campus is more welcoming and open, especially to minority groups. We must and will work toward providing an environment that promotes the success of everyone in our campus community.