The Red and Black

Issue date: 4/1/09 Section: Opinions

Meeting with Mike

Adams should be more forthcoming if he wants to host open forum sessions.

To the University student body, we ask you a simple question: Do you know what President Michael Adams' voice sounds like?

Were it not for his portrait on the University Web site, or the frequent mug shots appearing in this very paper, would you recognize Michael Adams from Adam?

Tuesday, Adams fulfilled his once-a-semester obligation of answering students' questions - dealing with issues such as employee furloughs, free speech zones on campus and "The Green Initiative Fund" students voted for last week.

At the end of the hour-long forum, however, we were left a little disappointed. "Open Mic" is a great gesture, but Tuesday's meeting was more of a clinic on how to run an effective PR campaign than an honest discussion of University policy. Adams refrained from admitting any mistakes his administration might have made and frequently referred to Vice President for External Affairs Tom Landrum and Provost Arnett Mace to field tough questions.

One of Adams' largest problems is a student body that deeply mistrusts and feels great disconnect toward him. If "Open Mic" is his opportunity to be forthcoming to students, it needs greater publicity and a larger venue than a small room tucked away on Tate Center's ground floor.

Adams, to be fair, is a busy man. Being president of a major university is no small task.

But the man sitting atop our University should be more visible and available to students. We'd like to see Adams walk through Tate Plaza shaking hands and hearing gripes. We'd like to see him unflanked by members of the senior administration.

We'd like to hear more of Adams' voice and read fewer of his news releases.

And for those of you who weren't at Tuesday's "Open Mic," or didn't already know, Adams speaks with a distinguished Southern accent.

- Drew Wheatley for the editorial board

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