From left to right, Tom Frazier, print shop manager, looks over campaign materials with Chancellor John Bardo and campaign leaders Judy Dowell and Gurney Chambers.

Bardo’s announcement of The Campaign for Western came during his State of the University address, “Esse Quam Videri.” The title is borrowed from the North Carolina state motto, which means “to be rather than to seem.” In his address, only the second State of the University speech in his nearly 12 years as WCU chancellor, he focused on excellence—and the steps necessary to continue raising
the academic bar at Western.

One major step in enhancing the institution, Bardo said, is to supplement existing resources with additional private-sector support through the campaign, whose theme is “Creating Extraordinary Opportunities.”

“The people of North Carolina have been very good to their universities, but excellence requires additional resources—especially focused resources that address specific quality questions,” he said.

As the campaign case statement says, “Throughout American higher education—in North Carolina and elsewhere—the level of private support tips the balance, turning good universities into great universities. Good faculties and academic programs into great faculties and programs. Good graduates into great graduates.”