Miami Student

Issue date: 9/7/07 Section: Campus

Governor Ted Strickland shakes hands with President David Hodge Wednesday in front of the Engineering Building. -Michael Pickering/The Miami Student

Staffer Allison Kolodziej shows Strickland different aspects of the rapid prototyping and fabrication lab. -Michael Pickering/The Miami Student

Senior David McMullen and Strickland hug in recognition of their shared hometown, Lucasville, Ohio. -Michael Pickering/The Miami Student

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland visited the newly constructed Engineering Building Wednesday to get a crash course in the history and future of Miami University-making it the first time in 20 years that a governor has visited Oxford.

Students from the Farmer School of Business and College of Arts and Science as well as several professors briefed the governor as he sat next to President David Hodge and Provost Jeffery Herbst.

Students addressed their research in subjects from microbiology to hypersonic aircraft, while Strickland sat silent, nodding and listening closely.

"A large majority of the students were representing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) as well as business students from the (First Miami Student and Alumni Federal) Credit Union," said Claire Wagner, assistant director of university communication. "But many of the deans were there as well and a representative student from the Access
Initiative program."

Upon learning that Miami senior microbiology major David McMullen grew up in his hometown, the governor gave him a hug.

McMullen continued to outline his research, which deals with the way bacteria produce protein under stress and how it is part of a greater study of resistance to antibiotics.

The governor said that this research is especially important now with Lucasville Prison having problems with this type of resistance.

Strickland also heard about Miami's business school, and particularly about the First Miami Student and Alumni Federal Credit Union.

Senior finance major Gabe Martin, the CEO of Miami's student credit union, stressed the importance of hands-on learning.

Martin explained to the governor that learning in a classroom has been beneficial, but that he has learned the most from managing $1.1 million in assets at the credit union.

"This was a chance for Miami to present the story of Miami," said Jens Sutmöller, president of Associated Student Government (ASG). "(Strickland) really listened more than anything and it was a good story we put forth."

Junior economics major Jason Persinger got the opportunity to meet the governor before the conference.

"It seemed like he genuinely cared and was impressed by Miami," he said. "It was nice to see a governor coming here," he said.

On top of research, access was a staple of the hour-long visit. Hodge outlined the Miami University Access Initiative, which allows students from household incomes of less than $35,000 to attend college almost free of charge.

First-year Justinn Eddie told the governor that he would not be able to attend college if it weren't for this policy. Strickland praised the program saying that he hoped all of Ohio schools would apply similar initiatives.

After learning about all of Miami's programs in business, education and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), he said that he felt pride that Ohio has this institution.

"If Ohio is to move forward, we must value, support and fund higher education," Strickland said. "We are trying to do things in Ohio that we hope will facilitate what you are trying to do here at Miami."

Strickland mentioned his new initiative, The University System of Ohio, a program to unite Ohio's public colleges and universities in an effort to make college more affordable. He recently appointed Eric Fingerhut as chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents to oversee the program.

"They are at a pivotal point in the planning process and they have asked all the student governments in Ohio for input," Sutmöller said. "While it has made higher education very politicized because the governor now appoints the chancellor, on the flip side, it's exciting that the government is listening to the public about
higher education."

Details will become more available over the next few months as Fingerhut prepares a 10-year master plan with suggestions from college leaders throughout the state.

"What (Strickland's) trying to do now is get a flavor for what's going on (at) all the campuses," Sutmöller said.

A Web site has been created specifically for the initiative and a draft of the master program is supposed to be available before Strickland's March 31 deadline.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools