Semicolon: The Past, Present, and Future of a Misunderstood Mark by Cecelia Watson I am a stickler for grammatical rules (ask anyone who has written for me) and a lover of the semicolon. Cecelia Watson’s book bolstered my comfort with semicolonic usage; she shattered my belief in grammatical edicts. Her takedown of David Foster Wallace’sContinue reading “Semicolon”
Author Archives: Don Laackman
March Update
I wanted to provide you with this update on what is happening at Champlain College. Munich Cyber Security Conference Last month, I traveled to Munich to participate in the Munich Cyber Security Conference, an offshoot of the Munich Security Conference. This exclusive gathering brought together business, government and IT executives from around the world toContinue reading “March Update”
Teach the Teachers: This is the best way
Teach the Teachers: This is the best way to teach kids about money http://money.us/1Zc3hKe via @MONEY @ChamplainEdu @ChampFinLit
Teach the Teachers: This is the best way
Teach the Teachers: This is the best way to teach kids about money http://money.us/1Zc3hKe via @MONEY @ChamplainEdu @ChampFinLit
Moving Day
The blog will be moving to a new address – donsdesk.champlain.edu. Same great WordPress engine powering it, but with a Champlain College wrapper around it. For those who type in the old address, we will set up an automatic re-direct. Until then, readers can find all new posts at the new address until the transitionContinue reading “Moving Day”
Busy Week Two
At dinner with a former trustee on Friday night, she asked me how things were going. I quickly recapped the exciting things happening at the College. She replied, “You haven’t signed up for a job. You have signed up for a lifestyle.” If this past week is a guide, it should be an exciting, rewardingContinue reading “Busy Week Two”
Defining Reality
Dave has turned over the keys, given up the decoder ring, and taught me the secret presidential handshake. All that’s left is to run the college. “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality.” [Max De Pree] The reality is, I start working at Champlain College on Tuesday. I have spent the lastContinue reading “Defining Reality”
And In the End . . .
I quoted Max De Pree on my way into Harold Washington College, and I’ll use the same quote on the way out: The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant. It is time for me to say thank you. TheContinue reading “And In the End . . .”
Herald Scores Awards
Professor Molly Turner, adviser to The Herald, let me know about the honors our students won at the Illinois Community College Association’s Spring Awards conference held April 4th and 5th at Moraine Valley Community College. The Herald has taken awards each year I have been here, and I commend the staff on continuing their traditionContinue reading “Herald Scores Awards”
The Loss of a Student
One of the things they don’t teach you in new president’s school is how to handle the calls you make to parents with condolences on the death of their child. While serving as president of Harold Washington, I have made these calls more often than I could have imagined. Our students have died from aContinue reading “The Loss of a Student”
Don's Desk 