President’s Report

October 11, 2006

I met with Joe Brennan and other PR folks on campus last Friday to discuss the negative spotlight placed on Ohio in the recent media.  After that meeting, I wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Times and the Plain Dealer (who ran an article that same morning).  Frankly, I am extremely put out by these negative and plainly inaccurate articles about the university.  And as student leaders – as ticked-off student leaders – we should make our voice heard.  I would like to encourage anyone who’s annoyed by this inaccurate portrayal in the media to write to papers from your hometown that print articles about Ohio, and let them know your story.

Here’s an excerpt from the Time’s letter:

“I and two other student leaders were interviewed for an entire hour, yet the reporter’s only mention of student opinion, one unattributed sentence, certainly did not capture our feelings.

Not only has the university been honest and particularly open, I and many other students have been involved with faculty, administrators, and staff in discussions of the issues and in making decisions about fixing them.

The Times also failed to note Ohio’s excellence. In 2005, our students led the state with the largest number of nationally-competitive awards. For graduation rate performance, U.S. News ranks us 9th among the 248 national doctoral universities.

I am extremely disappointed in The Times for not recognizing what I and the vast majority of students witness.  We are a university of integrity, social acceptance and academic excellence. I am proud to be an Ohio Bobcat.”

Also on Friday, we were scheduled to have a Master Plan Advisory meeting, but it was cancelled.  With the number of facilities management decisions happening around this campus (like the Oasis situation and the soon-to-open university center), I was extremely disappointed to learn about the meetings cancellation and am still looking to find the reason it and the other fall quarter meetings were cancelled.

VP Crites, Treasurer McKenney, and I had our weekly meeting with Dr. Smith on Monday where we discussed the general fee, a forum about retention rates, and student input on facilities management decisions.  Also on Monday, I attended a meeting about the move-in procedures for the new university center – so exciting!  So get ready to pack up in the next few weeks for our move across the green.

Yesterday was a really busy day.  We had a Council of Student Leaders lunch were we spoke to Dr. Smith about budget transparency and dining hall issues – including the Oasis situation.  Immediately following that meeting (with perfect timing), Dr. Smith and I met with Christine Sheets, who presented the information that you heard tonight about the Oasis and other dining hall changes.  Later that evening I went with Tim to the Athens Clean and Safe Halloween Committee meeting, which was entertaining as always, but I’ll let him divulge the details.