Letter to the Editor from CGC Prez

[RedStorm]

Very good read.....nicely put. And I agree 100%

A mountain out of a molehill

05/29/2007

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To the Editor

The recent reporting about Iowa State football coach Gene Chizik hiring a chaplin reaffirms the old adage that "good news does not sell" and the search for "all things bad" continues.

What is lost with this type of reporting is what this country needs today more than ever, to hear not only the negative, but also the positive that can come from what is being proposed. The unfortunate thing about this type of reporting is the silent majority is force-fed the thoughts of the few vocal people who have their "cause" and need to satiate the desire to push their agenda.

In the case of coach Chizik wanting a chaplin, what is lost in this type of reporting is the good that can come from what coach Chizik wants for his players and why it takes someone special to fill this void. What the media sells is a petition by a few members of the staff at ISU who want to sing the song of "separation of church and state." This is a "sound good" type of negative reporting and a concept that is badly misconstrued by many people.

I had the opportunity to hear coach Chizik and ISU Athletic Director Jamie Pollard present the reasons why a chaplin is so necessary for young people today. This program is not about forcing religion down the throats of a captive audience. It is not about religious conversion. It is about providing full-time counseling, spiritual and emotional, to young adults at the time when it is needed and when they request it.

How can a full-time head football coach counsel a young man who is 1,000 miles from home when he learns that his mother has died or his best friend has been killed? No football coach is equipped to handle this crisis and many others that may seem small to us, but are real and can arise at any time during a four- or five-year football career.

I have had the opportunity to talk to coach Chizik on several occasions, and I am very impressed by his genuine concern for the total well-being of his players. What I do not understand is why others go to such great lengths to subvert his efforts for, what appear to me, personal reasons.

I have also had the opportunity to talk to Jamie Pollard on numerous occasions, and I have the same impression of him, that he is genuinely concerned for the well-being of the student athletes at ISU. I also know he has done his homework to make certain this project is done in a way that will not offend. It will be funded by private donations. It will be available "24/7" by a trained professional who the football players will have had the opportunity to get to know and respect.

As we all know, you can never please everyone. However, I truly believe if the whole story is presented to the public, the vast majority of people would welcome, without hesitation or concern, what coach Chizik is requesting.

If we could talk to our "founding fathers" about this "molehill," I think they would first have a good laugh about "the separation of news and news analysis" and how that plays into freedom of speech and the press.

By the time they get through the "separation of church and state" argument, their sides would be aching.

Michael F. Lacey Jr.
president, Cyclone Gridiron Club
4825 NE 140th Ave.
Elkhart

 

[RedStorm]

Mid-Iowa Newspapers - A mountain out of a molehill

 

[ISUguy]

"It is about providing full-time counseling, spiritual and emotional, to young adults at the time when it is needed and when they request it."

To me, this is the key. This is the difference between me feeling uncomfortable with the situation to feeling okay about it. This is all about getting someone involved who the coaching staff is comfortable with and who is qualified to help kids out when they ask for help.

 

[Nedrick]

Very well stated...

 

[Cyclone90]

"It is about providing full-time counseling, spiritual and emotional, to young adults at the time when it is needed and when they request it."

To me, this is the key. This is the difference between me feeling uncomfortable with the situation to feeling okay about it. This is all about getting someone involved who the coaching staff is comfortable with and who is qualified to help kids out when they ask for help.

Yes, I agree wholeheartedly. I wonder if Coach Chizik anticipated this uproar. It probably would have flown under the radar more if the guy's title was "Counselor" rather than "Chaplin". Same guy, different title, but no Chaplin position in the Media Guide on payroll. The opponents might have less of an argument if that was the case. If the guy was hired as Secondary Coach would everybody be up in arms?

 

[Splendid]

Ata boy Mike!!

 

[rte4st8]

Didn't Mac have a team Chaplain type person but was not officially on staff or a paid position. I think it is a wonderful idea. If you have the opportunity to hear Coach Chizik speak he always talks about the mark of a man. Well Mr Professor that signed the petition. What is better the media talking about the last player to get arrested or having a team Chaplain?

Give me a break!

 

[cigaretteman]

Spell check?

 

[rte4st8]

In the age if email and text message you tell me somebody cares about spell check.

 

[Whitey]

I have a quick question. Is there a proposed person for the position? What credentials beyond religious background will be required for the position.

This is not a flame. I am curious to know if the person will have the qualifications to counsel someone who is looking for something more than spiritual guidance. If Chizik agreed to a Buddhist, Islamic or Jewish chaplain (someone from a minority religion but with a deep understanding of faith), would that silence the critics?

 

[SlyCy]

Spell check?

My thoughts exactly ... embarrassing in such a well crafted letter.

CHAPLAIN NOT CHAPLIN PEOPLE!!

 

[rte4st8]

Online Petition to support CHAPLAIN

Support Chizik's Plan - A Chaplin on Staff Petition : [ powered by iPetitions.com ]

 

[MINNESOTACYCLONE]

Excellent Article!

 

[CYVADER]

My thoughts exactly ... embarrassing in such a well crafted letter.

CHAPLAIN NOT CHAPLIN PEOPLE!!

golf clap for correcting people? golf clap. kudos to you.:Smart:

 

[C.John]

In the age if email and text message you tell me somebody cares about spell check.

If you are attempting to express your opinions and influence others via the written word, which is what Michael Lacey is attempting to do in his letter to the editor, then yes, proper spelling is required. The misuse and/or misspelling of words can have a negative impact on the way the readers perceive your letter. While I personally am neither for nor against the chaplain, Mr. Lacey is a proponent of the hiring. Unfortunately, Mr. Lacey misspelled the one word that is the most important word in his letter, chaplain.

 

[IsUaClone2]

Thanks for the opportunity to sign the petition.

My comments follow:

I sincerely believe that having access to someone whose mission is to listen first is extremely beneficial to student athletes who are expected to take on much more stress than many others their age. I know many people encounter stressful situations and I also wish that they will find someone to confide in. I applaud the coaches and athletic directors decision to plan for this position. I am discouraged that others claiming to represent Iowa State believe that a chaplain/counselor is not beneficial to young adults who are subjecting themselves to immense pressure conditions.

 

[dmclone]

Re: Thanks for the opportunity to sign the petition.

My comments follow:

I sincerely believe that having access to someone whose mission is to listen first is extremely beneficial to student athletes who are expected to take on much more stress than many others their age. I know many people encounter stressful situations and I also wish that they will find someone to confide in. I applaud the coaches and athletic directors decision to plan for this position. I am discouraged that others claiming to represent Iowa State believe that a chaplain/counselor is not beneficial to young adults who are subjecting themselves to immense pressure conditions.

I was with you until "chaplain/counselor". If it was just "counselor" I don't think you'd hear anyone complaining. Why not go that route?

 

[ISUFan22]

If you are attempting to express your opinions and influence others via the written word, which is what Michael Lacey is attempting to do in his letter to the editor, then yes, proper spelling is required. The misuse and/or misspelling of words can have a negative impact on the way the readers perceive your letter. While I personally am neither for nor against the chaplain, Mr. Lacey is a proponent of the hiring. Unfortunately, Mr. Lacey misspelled the one word that is the most important word in his letter, chaplain.

Agree 100%.

 

[rte4st8]

Touche!!