President Hodge addresses members of the Miami community at a press conference Thursday afternoon in Laws Hall. (Michael Pickering)
In a causal and colloquial manner, Miami University's 21st President David Hodge addressed student concerns and questions at a press conference Thursday afternoon.
From athletics to the First in 2009 campaign, Hodge clarified to the room of mainly Miami journalism and communication students not only what direction the university was moving toward, but also changes and concerns he shares. Hodge also expressed his enthusiasm at partaking in such an event.
"That's the single most important thing - what's on student's minds?" Hodge said, explaining that he has attempted to be a "human sponge" on Miami's campus.
Questions ranged from the future of the Western College Program (WCP) to the issue of a living wage. As he answered questions, Hodge maintained a theme: the importance of student involvement in co-curricular activities and on Miami's campus.
Hodge said that student apathy is a problem throughout this campus - from attendance at sporting events to diversity problems.
"This is just not about getting an education," Hodge said. "It's about launching your lives."
When asked what he hoped to accomplish in one year at Miami, Hodge took up student involvement once again.
"I would hope that the apathy question would not be asked (at this press conference in a year)," Hodge said.
Hodge also answered questions regarding the university's Task Force on Alcohol Abuse Prevention, saying that the pervasive culture of alcohol abuse takes away from the academic experience.
"There is no fear greater than that of a middle of the night phone call," Hodge said, regarding his fears for the safety of students at Miami who abuse alcohol and that it is a "vexing problem" across the nation.
Enjoy what you're reading?
Signup for our newsletter
Hodge said he is working to gain more funding for Miami by traveling to Columbus and Washington, D.C., to meet with legislators. Funding from the state has decreased by 20-25 percent since 2002, but as Hodge pointed out, Miami is working to show legislators that the school is worthy of funding - despite financial problems the state is facing.
"Ohio is in trouble folks," Hodge said. " ... We are underfunded (in higher education) relative to other states."
Yet not all of the press conference was serious in tone.
At one point Hodge invited students to join him on his daily run.
"The one thing I really liked was when he said he goes running at 5 (a.m.) and if you wait outside the Lottie Moon house, you can run with him," said senior journalism major Michelle Cheek. "I think this showed what type of guy he is."
Richard Campbell, director of the journalism program at Miami, was pleased with Thursday's press conference and believes such events are important to student media on campus.
"They provide regular contact with Miami media and journalism students," Campbell said.
Ultimately, Campbell said he hopes that the presidential press conferences will become a tradition.
Over time, Hodge would like to see Miami develop into a place that has the feeling of a small liberal arts school and offer the opportunities of a larger research university. Hodge said he believes the university is already in that middle-of-the-road position, but needs to embrace and develop more to truly make Miami distinct.
"We're taking the best of Miami, and making it better," Hodge said, pointing out that it was the best of Miami; the excellence, reputation, and sense of community; is what drew him and his wife, Valerie, to the university.
"You are the reason we're here," Hodge said.
Read More
How one professor and her classes are preserving Oxford’s Black history
By Sean Scott | March 20, 2024Jazma Sutton, an assistant professor of history, teaches The Black Midwest (HST 350Q) and Black Women in America (HST 450D) classes. In both courses, she has students working with the Smith Library of Regional History and Miami’s archives to document and preserve Black history in Oxford.
Miami faculty members recount Freedom Summer in new documentary
By Luke Macy | February 25, 2022After seven years of work, “Training for Freedom,” a documentary highlighting Oxford’s involvement in the Freedom Summer of 1964, premiered on PBS Western Reserve on Valentine’s Day.
“Documenting the COVID-19 Pandemic”: History in the making
By Alice Momany | August 29, 2021In March 2020, Miami University’s archives launched “Documenting the COVID-19 Pandemic,” a collection focused on life during the COVID-19 pandemic.