Amidst the controversies and incompetencies that too often dominate today's headlines, it is a pleasure to be able to congratulate someone for getting something right. And in the case of the annual Beale Street Music Festival, organizers continue to get it very right indeed.
Since its debut in 1977, the festival has endured its occasional fits and sputters and no-shows But the past few years have seen itcatapulted it to a place among the nation's festival elite.
Much of the BSMF's success can be traced to the organizers at Memphis in May. Because of their hard work, the festival continues to be one of the best run around, with convenient facilities, a timely performance schedule, great sound, and an effective security force.
City planners should also get credit for expanding Tom Lee Park, allowing the festival to grow and expanding one of the most breathtaking views of any river anywhere.
But the BSMF is, more than anything, about music, and the people who for the last few years have scheduled the music for the BSMF should get the biggest thanks of all. Bob Kelley and his unheralded staff at Mid-South Concerts have brought some great concerts to Memphis over the years -- the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, and now U2. But their work on the BSMF the past two years may well be their finest achievement. They have brought in the hottest new bands (the Wallflowers), seldom-seen legends (Van Morrison), and classic blues artists (Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown). And with the excellent additions of the Memphis Music and Gospel stages, they have also managed to provide a much-needed local feel.
There do remain a number of obstacles in the BSMF's future -- scheduling conflicts with New Orleans' JazzFest, a rapidly shrinking Tom Lee Park, not enough emphasis on Memphis' or the MIM honored country's unique culture. But as it stands now, the BSMF is one event, pulled off for the most part by locals, that the entire city can point to with pride.
This Friday afternoon at The Pyramid, 1,356 students will graduate from the University of Memphis. These graduates might consider themselves fortunate to be getting out now -- just ahead of some devastating budget cuts.
State-mandated spending increases on K-12 education mean that Tennessee's universities get a smaller slice of the pie, says Governor Don Sundquist. The U of M must carve an estimated $4.2 million out of its budget, and many students and employees are wondering how much more belt-tightening the university can endure before academic quality begins to suffer. Teachers can't buy instructional materials. The library can't buy books. There's not enough money to upgrade computer systems. Deteriorating buildings go unrepaired. Students will find it more difficult to obtain the classes and assistance they need.
In spite of these problems, the U of M is taking steps toward its goal of becoming a recognized research institution. The 23 chairs of excellence bring prestige, expertise, and grants to the school, while the work of research centers like the Universities Prevention Center (operated in tandem with the University of Tenenssee Medical School) draws national attention.
The U of M has made efficient use of the resources it has and has creatively sought -- and employed -- new sources of funding. But it cannot survive without a certain amount of help from the state. We can only hope that the budget situation has reached its nadir and that state funding will increase next year.
The U of M can weather the drought, but only for so long.