Exclusive Interview with Phillip McAlpin

[Bornthrilla]

I already have your phone number. I called you last week remember?

BTW: I see that you are back on your office computer now. Quit while you're behind.

[Bigboy]

I don't know anything about how Phil does his job but I know him personaly, and he is a good and decent person. I know there are some who will talk sheeet about him and and anyone else no matter what. But anyway lets give Phil a break at the present time due to the fact that he just buried his mother on last Saturday. He is still trying to get over her death.

[TOPPDOGG]

Well I'm sorry to hear about his mother.

I do concur that the advertising panels should be occupied with something. It could be a Victory Club, Aggie Club or Alumni Association panel. For the panels to be blank so long does not project the right image.

[Bornthrilla]

This is what I'd like to see on the A&T website one day:

store.cstv.com/marketplace/store.cfm?dept_id=6832&cart_id=0121522446797116971091118906720071206&store_id=328

[Aggie Monster]

Funny thing is, thats easy as hell to do.

[Bornthrilla]

Can you stop by A&T the next time you're in Greensboro and show somebody how to set this up. Obviously, they need help.

[da1andonle]

admin said:

Is that just a matter of having to re-educate our alumni on the importance of contributing and trying to change the whole culture of giving back?

Phil McAlpin: “Yes, in large part. You have to attack it from a number of different angles, and indoctrination and orientation are just some of those angles. When they come in as freshman, as they sit through orientation programs, we should offer them a program on giving. As a freshman, they should be able to give $20, $100 a year. Usually, most students here have $100 a year that they can give to the university. If you get them giving back as freshman, once they become alums they are already in the habit of giving back to their school.”

Any body ever thought how important customer service is, to helping people make the decision to give back. If your not treated right in your undergrad why give back.

[Aggie Monster]

da1andonle said:

Any body ever thought how important customer service is, to helping people make the decision to give back. If your not treated right in your undergrad why give back.

You should give back regardless of how you were treated undergrad. if you got a decent job and think A&T helped with that then reward them a little. A dollar, $20, whatever. I'm not saying give what you dont have or pay A&T before you keep "the home" happy, but remember who helped you get where you are. A&T is an institution, not the lady in Dowdy who cussed you out for not having your paper work right.

[DOOMS]

That's true, but I don't agree with asking the students to donate. They already have a surcharge for athletics slapped in their tuition that has bought them zero football wins over the past two years.

I think most kids already have their mind made up whether they will give or not by the time they graduate (if they are so lucky).

[Aggie Monster]

doomsday said:

That's true, but I don't agree with asking the students to donate. They already have a surcharge for athletics slapped in their tuition that has bought them zero football wins over the past two years.

I think most kids already have their mind made up whether they will give or not by the time they graduate (if they are so lucky).

Oh I wasn't talking students. They are already paying enough. I'm not even really talking recent grads. I was broke as hell for a couple of years after graduating. I needed ALL my cheese. I was just speaking of those of us who are nowa little better off in life because of what we got from A&T. Giving back is not easy, it goes against peoples nature to spend money and see nothing in return immediately. That's why we need an automatic debit signup. Start with programs of $10/month up to $100/month. If their is already something like that out there then excuse me for not doing my research.

Back to the scoreboard panels. The only thing that pisses me off about the panels is not that they are unsold panels, but that there are BLANK panels. Someone mention earlier that even the blank panels should be Victory Club or Something advertising another venue for A&T. No panels should be blank. Is there even one with "Advertise Here" up there.

[DOOMS]

You're right. The blankness is pretty ridiculous.

But in a city with Jefferson Pilot, UPS, VF, etc., it's ridiculous to have blank or even free panels. Greensboro is chock full of A&T alums and supporters. Just drop the damn price already and get some words on them panels. It really looks terrible to have any blank. Shoot, drop the price enough and the BDF will buy one from ya Phil.

[DECKS]

I agree, fill em with Victory Club, Aggie Club or even student organizations until they can be sold. I'm not in favor of dropping the price right now because as he said it may be tough to raise the price later on. Besides I'm not sure if price is the issue or the fact that businesses are reluctant to be associated with losers. His job has to be tough trying to sell those panels in the face of having an 0-23 football team.

On second thought if we're going to bring Fobbs back then we might as well cut the price in half.

[Aggie Monster]

Only attendance should effect the cost of those panels. Number of eyes and demographics is all you need to sell something. A&T's record is not an issue when it comes to that.

[JayBee]

raleighaggie said:

Only attendance should effect the cost of those panels. Number of eyes and demographics is all you need to sell something. A&T's record is not an issue when it comes to that.

That's a very true statement!

[da1andonle]

I agree with you people should give back. I'm just saying asking the students to give when we have the higest athletic fees in the UNC system. Thats crazy. And as for that lady in Dowdy well people remeber the bad before they remeber the good most times. The bad leaves a longer lasting impression than the good for the institution not just the that lady.

Standing in line in Corbett at the begining of a semester is part of A&T tradition. Thats just what happens, its accepted. I'm saying why can't we change this and things like this use the website make things easy for people. If you make it easier for me to spend my money, I'll probabbly spend more money or donate in this case.Possession utility (I learned that with Prof. Burford Merrick Hall rm. on the bottom in the corner 102 I think)