Students mixed on university president’s resignation

Brian Manzullo and Eric Dresden

Michael Rao’s resignation has stirred mixed reaction among students.

Some care. Many don’t.

In the case of Student Government Association President and Montgomery senior Paul Pridgeon, it was a surprise.

Pridgeon, who has met with Rao several times, has always believed Rao has had a student-first mentality.

“At the forefront of his mind is always ‘how will this affect students, and what are we doing as an institution to help students and continue to benefit students?’” Pridgeon said.

Assistant Dean of Student Life Tony Voisin said Rao has achieved a lot in his near nine-year term.

“Presidents are hired to make changes and impact, and President Rao did just that,” he said. “The next president, just as Rao did, will leave some sort of legacy. There is much to be thankful for and much to be hopeful for.”

Voisin said that without Rao’s support, the Student Leadership Organization and Volunteer Center wouldn’t be as successful as it is.

Residence Hall Assembly President and Davison senior Nick Varner said Rao’s departure is a necessary step in his career.

“The president is a unique job because it has internal and external viewpoints and you have to connect with the students, too,” he said. “This should be very important to students – it’s a big loss.”

Battle Creek junior and Larzelere Hall Council President Alyssa Zebell said she was sorry to see Rao go.

“I was always very impressed by him. He always seemed to be very personable. I think he also put students first,” Zebell said.

Roscommon graduate student Erin Bolen said she was looking forward to a new administration.

“I want to see more involvement with (the new president) on campus, making sure that all the different areas of campus are actually taken care of, the departments get the funding they need and we don’t just focus on specific things,” she said.

Bolen said she would like to see the new president devote more money to classroom education, rather than dressing up the campus to look nice for visitors.

She was displeased with how the news of Rao’s resignation was delivered.

“I actually thought it was really abrupt and wasn’t what the faculty or the students deserved,” she said. “I think there should’ve been more of a lead up to it, not just half-way through the second semester, he’s like, ‘oh, yeah – by the way, I’m leaving.’”

“I think we deserved a little more than that,” she said.

studentlife@cm-life.com