ARNOLD MITCHEM REFLECTS ON EOP
Interview
EOP's founding director 'emotionally overwhelmed' by 45 years of achievements
By Elizabeth Baker
Arnold Mitchem had been warned, but he didn’t believe it. The retired university educator and administrator was told that a documentary about his life’s work would leave him amazed. “I’m emotionally overwhelmed,” Mitchem said. He looked as if ready to shed a tear sitting on the Weasler Auditorium stage as nearly 150 admirers looked on at Marquette University.
They all had just watched the premiere of “Answering the Call,” a 38-minute retrospective about the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) – Marquette’s nationally recognized program for low-income, first-generation students of which he is the founding director. Celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, EOP has helped nearly 2,000 students earn a college degree.
The university commissioned the documentary and presented it during alumni weekend in July 2014. The film features interviews with Mitchem and a couple dozen current and former EOP students, faculty, staff, administrators and supporters. After the showing, Mitchem, himself a Marquette alumnus and now a university trustee, took to the stage with EOP alum Herbert Lowe. The two men chatted for a half hour about the film, Mitchem’s life and EOP’s legacy.
It was Lowe, a journalist and now faculty member, who had asked Mitchem to not to view the film in advance, knowing that the former director would be overwhelmed. “It’s been a very emotional morning … I cried this morning,” Mitchem said, throwing his hands in the air. “I confess. I’m not a tough guy today.”
“What’s the first thing that comes to mind?” Lowe asked.
Mitchem said the video made him realize how deeply people felt about their EOP experience. “I’m very grateful that I had the opportunity to involve myself in the lives of so many,” he said. “It’s been a real privilege in my life.”
Mitchem and Marquette lead the way in 1969
Mitchem directed EOP from 1969 to 1986, along the way earning a Ph.D. in foundations of education in 1981. His dissertation was a case study of the program’s causation and first 12 years. The assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. intensified civil rights activism in Milwaukee and across campus. Marquette responded to demands for increased diversity by creating EOP.
Mitchem said he “hoped deeply and worked hard” to ensure opportunities for deserving and needy students to succeed in higher education. “I wanted Marquette to play a real vital role in developing leadership of color in this community. I didn’t see it here. I saw and felt momentum … and I wanted Marquette to be a part of that momentum. I wanted Marquette to be a leader.”
Mitchem left the university to work in national education advocacy programs in Washington, retiring as president emeritus of the Council for Opportunity in Education in 2013 after 32 years as its founding president. Today, EOP at Marquette is a federally funded TRiO program comprised of three parts: Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math and Science (for high school students), Student Support Services (college students) and Ronald E. McNair Scholars (graduate school preparation).
The struggle for higher education for first-generation, low-income students
Lowe asked if Mitchem had come from the same background as EOP students – “or was it silver spoons and crystal stairs?”
“Oh, silver spoons and crystal stairs, of course!” Mitchem said. The audience laughed as he continued: “I come from the working class. No one in my family had ever earned a baccalaureate degree. They sacrificed a lot to get me to Marquette in ’56 – and then I screwed it up.”
“Would EOP at that time have kept you from screwing it up?” Lowe asked.
“It might have, but maybe not,” Mitchem said with laughter. “The temptation was too great … especially when you could drink at 18 in this city at that time.”
Nonetheless, his experiences and struggles as a student helped him identify and sympathize with the problems and distractions the first 40 EOP students faced in 1969. Mitchem said that despite educational opportunity programs having spurred from President Lyndon Johnson’s vision of a “Great Society,” by the middle ‘70s there was a lack of advocacy groups dedicated to what became TRiO’s mission. Marquette, on the other hand, kept these programs a priority for the sake of campus diversity and affected students. “If it had not been for Marquette,” he said, “the TRiO movement would very likely have died either in the middle ‘70s or certainly in the ‘80s.”
The Obama administration neither promotes or publicizes TRiO programs – and does not recognize the legitimacy of such programs and their outcomes, he said, adding: “It hasn’t been as sympathetic as I would like, being frank. They have never tried to kill it … You kill it by silence, inaction.”
Many believe that EOP-type programs are no longer necessary because universities can make serving low-income first-generation students part of their mission. Mitchem disagreed, insisting that universities need strong leadership to keep these programs alive. Financial aid is necessary but not sufficient for low-income students, and the expansion of supportive services programs is essential, he said. “A lot of people don’t understand it intellectually, because you know where the supportive services for them come from? Their parents. All of my children had supportive services, and all of them graduated in four years.”
A journey toward diversity, yesterday and today
As for diversity among Marquette's administration, today eight of 23 leadership council members are women and three are people of color. In 1969, only on the men's basketball team could such diversity be found on campus, Mitchem said with a laugh.
“We’ve come a long way,” Lowe said.
“We certainly have,” Mitchem said.
Those desiring more diversity in higher education administration should stay energized and vigorous rather than dismayed. “You have to do that when you represent any kind of interest that isn’t traditional … That’s just the nature of the beast.”
Lowe asked how could people contribute to EOP’s mission of diversity and equality in higher education. Mitchem cleared his throat, smiled and said: “Now remember, I’m a trustee. … And so I’m just going to lay it on you: We need money. Mon-ey! OK?”
He asked for generosity, for people to make the sacrifices to give back to the professors and counselors who gave their time, care and compassion to ensure the success of the EOP students.
Mitchem offered this advice for young people: “Take yourself seriously. Don’t play yourself cheap. All you have really is your energy and your time. Devote both well to your own personal development and to the future of your unborn children.”
To those who have helped support EOP in any way, he said: “God bless you. … We moved forward as a team. I like to think we made a difference.”
Lowe ended the conversation by saying to Mitchem, “I would not have been able to be here [as an undergrad] probably past my first year if it wasn’t for ... EOP.” The faculty member touched his hand to his chest and said, “So I am extremely grateful for that,” and then motioned to Mitchem, “and extremely grateful for you.”
Mitchem extended his hand out to Lowe, and stood up rose from his chair as the audience stood to applaud. Barely heard through the claps and cheers, Mitchem said, “Thank you, Herb,” and as they embraced, “I love you, brother.”
They all had just watched the premiere of “Answering the Call,” a 38-minute retrospective about the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) – Marquette’s nationally recognized program for low-income, first-generation students of which he is the founding director. Celebrating its 45th anniversary this year, EOP has helped nearly 2,000 students earn a college degree.
The university commissioned the documentary and presented it during alumni weekend in July 2014. The film features interviews with Mitchem and a couple dozen current and former EOP students, faculty, staff, administrators and supporters. After the showing, Mitchem, himself a Marquette alumnus and now a university trustee, took to the stage with EOP alum Herbert Lowe. The two men chatted for a half hour about the film, Mitchem’s life and EOP’s legacy.
It was Lowe, a journalist and now faculty member, who had asked Mitchem to not to view the film in advance, knowing that the former director would be overwhelmed. “It’s been a very emotional morning … I cried this morning,” Mitchem said, throwing his hands in the air. “I confess. I’m not a tough guy today.”
“What’s the first thing that comes to mind?” Lowe asked.
Mitchem said the video made him realize how deeply people felt about their EOP experience. “I’m very grateful that I had the opportunity to involve myself in the lives of so many,” he said. “It’s been a real privilege in my life.”
Mitchem and Marquette lead the way in 1969
Mitchem directed EOP from 1969 to 1986, along the way earning a Ph.D. in foundations of education in 1981. His dissertation was a case study of the program’s causation and first 12 years. The assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. intensified civil rights activism in Milwaukee and across campus. Marquette responded to demands for increased diversity by creating EOP.
Mitchem said he “hoped deeply and worked hard” to ensure opportunities for deserving and needy students to succeed in higher education. “I wanted Marquette to play a real vital role in developing leadership of color in this community. I didn’t see it here. I saw and felt momentum … and I wanted Marquette to be a part of that momentum. I wanted Marquette to be a leader.”
Mitchem left the university to work in national education advocacy programs in Washington, retiring as president emeritus of the Council for Opportunity in Education in 2013 after 32 years as its founding president. Today, EOP at Marquette is a federally funded TRiO program comprised of three parts: Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math and Science (for high school students), Student Support Services (college students) and Ronald E. McNair Scholars (graduate school preparation).
The struggle for higher education for first-generation, low-income students
Lowe asked if Mitchem had come from the same background as EOP students – “or was it silver spoons and crystal stairs?”
“Oh, silver spoons and crystal stairs, of course!” Mitchem said. The audience laughed as he continued: “I come from the working class. No one in my family had ever earned a baccalaureate degree. They sacrificed a lot to get me to Marquette in ’56 – and then I screwed it up.”
“Would EOP at that time have kept you from screwing it up?” Lowe asked.
“It might have, but maybe not,” Mitchem said with laughter. “The temptation was too great … especially when you could drink at 18 in this city at that time.”
Nonetheless, his experiences and struggles as a student helped him identify and sympathize with the problems and distractions the first 40 EOP students faced in 1969. Mitchem said that despite educational opportunity programs having spurred from President Lyndon Johnson’s vision of a “Great Society,” by the middle ‘70s there was a lack of advocacy groups dedicated to what became TRiO’s mission. Marquette, on the other hand, kept these programs a priority for the sake of campus diversity and affected students. “If it had not been for Marquette,” he said, “the TRiO movement would very likely have died either in the middle ‘70s or certainly in the ‘80s.”
The Obama administration neither promotes or publicizes TRiO programs – and does not recognize the legitimacy of such programs and their outcomes, he said, adding: “It hasn’t been as sympathetic as I would like, being frank. They have never tried to kill it … You kill it by silence, inaction.”
Many believe that EOP-type programs are no longer necessary because universities can make serving low-income first-generation students part of their mission. Mitchem disagreed, insisting that universities need strong leadership to keep these programs alive. Financial aid is necessary but not sufficient for low-income students, and the expansion of supportive services programs is essential, he said. “A lot of people don’t understand it intellectually, because you know where the supportive services for them come from? Their parents. All of my children had supportive services, and all of them graduated in four years.”
A journey toward diversity, yesterday and today
As for diversity among Marquette's administration, today eight of 23 leadership council members are women and three are people of color. In 1969, only on the men's basketball team could such diversity be found on campus, Mitchem said with a laugh.
“We’ve come a long way,” Lowe said.
“We certainly have,” Mitchem said.
Those desiring more diversity in higher education administration should stay energized and vigorous rather than dismayed. “You have to do that when you represent any kind of interest that isn’t traditional … That’s just the nature of the beast.”
Lowe asked how could people contribute to EOP’s mission of diversity and equality in higher education. Mitchem cleared his throat, smiled and said: “Now remember, I’m a trustee. … And so I’m just going to lay it on you: We need money. Mon-ey! OK?”
He asked for generosity, for people to make the sacrifices to give back to the professors and counselors who gave their time, care and compassion to ensure the success of the EOP students.
Mitchem offered this advice for young people: “Take yourself seriously. Don’t play yourself cheap. All you have really is your energy and your time. Devote both well to your own personal development and to the future of your unborn children.”
To those who have helped support EOP in any way, he said: “God bless you. … We moved forward as a team. I like to think we made a difference.”
Lowe ended the conversation by saying to Mitchem, “I would not have been able to be here [as an undergrad] probably past my first year if it wasn’t for ... EOP.” The faculty member touched his hand to his chest and said, “So I am extremely grateful for that,” and then motioned to Mitchem, “and extremely grateful for you.”
Mitchem extended his hand out to Lowe, and stood up rose from his chair as the audience stood to applaud. Barely heard through the claps and cheers, Mitchem said, “Thank you, Herb,” and as they embraced, “I love you, brother.”
This website was created as part of a fall 2014 digital journalism course in the Diederich College of Communication at Marquette University. Led by instructor (and EOP alumnus) Herbert Lowe, #loweclass consisted Elizabeth Baker, Brittany Carloni, Thomas Conroy, Jenna Ebbers, Estefania Elizondo, Dewayne Gage, Henry Greening, Madeline Kennedy, Madeline Pieschel, Teran Powell, Natalie Ragusin, Roque Redondo, Caroline Roers, Devi Shastri and Robyn St. John.