Spring Break
Taki deserves lasting recognition
Editorial Board
Issue date: 4/10/09 Section: Ed-Op
You may have sensed it walking through the halls in MacAllister or the grass by Kelly. You may have been sitting in class with your laptop open or in your dorm with the blankets over your head. A tangible sorrow pervaded campus as the news set in over the past week - President Papadakis is really gone, and Drexel is forever altered.
Whether or not we knew him or met him, as Drexel students we grapple with this loss. Despite our workloads and busy schedules, we share a sense of emptiness at the thought that our iconic leader will no longer be present to give speeches on special occasions or be working tirelessly behind the scenes to make the University stronger. To many of the seniors, to fathom Taki not being present at graduation to shake our hands is still difficult to comprehend.
We appreciate that communication between the administration and the student body during this troublesome time has been quick and efficient, and we compliment the administration for cancelling classes so students may observe the funeral. This tragedy has, in a strange way, provided us with campus unity as we mourn and as we search for the proper way to honor Taki's life.
Our educational lives were greatly impacted by Taki during his tenure as president; even more importantly, students for many years to come will benefit from the effects of his work. He dedicated his career at Drexel to bringing together a disjointed student body and marrying human, financial and physical improvements to the University.
It is a shame that he will not see the end result of his construction plans, but we like to think that he didn't believe there should ever be an end to Drexel's growth. Taki taught us that universities are ongoing projects, and for each improvement made, there should be another one in the making.
That is why we now urge the administration to name the Integrated Sciences Building after Papadakis. This new building is one of the capstone projects in his administration's massive construction plan and should serve as a monument to Taki - a landmark to honor his visionary decisions for Drexel University.
Whether or not we knew him or met him, as Drexel students we grapple with this loss. Despite our workloads and busy schedules, we share a sense of emptiness at the thought that our iconic leader will no longer be present to give speeches on special occasions or be working tirelessly behind the scenes to make the University stronger. To many of the seniors, to fathom Taki not being present at graduation to shake our hands is still difficult to comprehend.
We appreciate that communication between the administration and the student body during this troublesome time has been quick and efficient, and we compliment the administration for cancelling classes so students may observe the funeral. This tragedy has, in a strange way, provided us with campus unity as we mourn and as we search for the proper way to honor Taki's life.
Our educational lives were greatly impacted by Taki during his tenure as president; even more importantly, students for many years to come will benefit from the effects of his work. He dedicated his career at Drexel to bringing together a disjointed student body and marrying human, financial and physical improvements to the University.
It is a shame that he will not see the end result of his construction plans, but we like to think that he didn't believe there should ever be an end to Drexel's growth. Taki taught us that universities are ongoing projects, and for each improvement made, there should be another one in the making.
That is why we now urge the administration to name the Integrated Sciences Building after Papadakis. This new building is one of the capstone projects in his administration's massive construction plan and should serve as a monument to Taki - a landmark to honor his visionary decisions for Drexel University.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Mary Kay Hamburger, CoAS '02
posted 4/10/09 @ 9:19 AM EST
This is very well-written, succinct and appropriate. Taki was the consummate steward of Drexel, my condolences to his family and colleagues.
Andy
posted 4/10/09 @ 4:02 PM EST
I agree. As I walked to class the day I heard the news campus felt like such a different place; a desolate, deserted place. Left behind by a great man. (Continued…)
Alex
posted 4/11/09 @ 12:49 AM EST
Inevitably, controversy followed Dr. Papadakis during his tenure, which was unfortunate since most (if not all) of his moves were meant to drive the University forward. (Continued…)
Dave
posted 4/12/09 @ 3:00 PM EST
I was gonna say they should put in a pedestrian bridge in his name. We sure as heck need one over market &/or chestnut. As an engineering college I'm sure they could figure this out. (Continued…)
Post a Comment