Wallace Anderson Is My Homeboy

the question is, does he have a dog named Grommit? if so, I'd wear a shirt too.

I'm gonna take a different tack here - to no one's surprise, I'm sure. To see the VP of admissions weeding behind the dorms at Covenant might say something about his work ethic. On the other hand, it might say something about either his inability to delegate, or the college's inability to weed, or both. I've never held an executive level position, but I would think that a good leader, especially an executive, would know when and how to tell other people to do their jobs and then leave well enough alone. Mr. Anderson should have better things to do than work grounds.

Ryan, there's a number of reasons why that analysis doesn't obtain (the enormous lack of manpower resources due to budgetary issues for one).

Regardless, work with us on this one. This was a pro-Wallace post.

Also, if it was beautification week, then Wallace may also have just been trying to set a good example. I'd wear the T-shirt.

What about a shirt that says, "Wallace Loves Weed"?

No? Bad idea? I thought so.

But I would certainly buy a "Homeboy" shirt.

He used to be the gatekeeper at Covenant Seminary - I think every prospective student had to interview with him; I did. I thought he was nice. I'm just amazed that any of you are concerned about your alma mater. I think that comes from going to a school that does or should share your worldview. I suppose I wouldn't care less if Mississippi State University (my alma mater) closed its doors tomorrow. It's just another state university and there are 100 like it.

As someone who works daily with Wallace Anderson, I can assure you that he did delegate hundreds of things in an attempt to clean up the college for new and returning students. It is difficult to maintain a campus like Covenant's with the size of the staff charged with this task. All of us performed tasks that are not in our job descriptions in a massive team effort. It was personally very encouraging to see a servant-leader who doesn't just sit behind a desk barking orders. If he had neglected any of his VP duties to weed that would be one thing, but he spent family time with his kids pulling weeds. I have been around Covenant for many years and can't think of many people who care more about Covenant. He has either made things happen or been instrumental in some significant changes for the better (cleaner dorms, better food, more functional furnishings in the Great Hall, more majors, more sports, better customer service, to name a few). This place needed some positive changes. Change always makes someone unhappy. I wish we could all remember that there are always two sides to every story. I've seen the man's faults, but I trust his heart. Thanks for your comments Josiah.

I would feel better about Wallace's improvements to Covenant if he seemed to care more about the students actually at Covenant than prospective students and outsiders. He seems to be making a lot of improvements to how the college appears, without really improving everyday student life.

Wallace's official title is VP of Admissions and Enrollment Management. Enrollment Management happens when a prospective student becomes a student. Wallace is held accountable for student retention and would be a fool to only be concerned about making a good impression on visitors and prospective students. As for evidence of his concern about the everyday life of current students: Wallace cut the knee-high grass at Highlands for the soccer players and those students who would be watching their scrimmage. (No prospective students were scheduled to visit.) Three weeks before move-in, Wallace saw the deplorable conditions the guys in Catacombs would be living in and focused a lot of energy into refurbishing the hall. (Most of the guys living in Catacombs are returning students, not new students, and we rarely take prospective students down there.) Many students are now sleeping on better mattresses. (Prospective students usually have to sleep on the floor somewhere.) The current students are the ones who have most benefitted from better food and longer hours in the Great Hall. (We could take visitors off campus to eat if we chose to do so.) Construction is underway for a new intramural field behind Ashe, and lights are being put up on Shadowlands. (Most prospective students don't participate in intramurals or go to soccer practice.) My husband and I are alumni and so are two of our three children. Our youngest is a current student. Our heartfelt desire is that God would continue to use Covenant College to equip His people to be world-changers for Christ. We are all grateful that this is Wallace Anderson's passion for Covenant as well.

Hey, I've sent you PLENTY of emails way later than 3:00 am! Like that's EARLY for me. So do I get to be in your "hardest working" crew?