To keep with what I feel is in the best interest of the students at OU, I feel that Dean Ryan Lombardi should withdraw his candidacy for Vice President of Student Affairs.
Don’t get me wrong, Dean Lombardi spends a massive amount of time among the students, getting to know the students. His Twitter feed has so many student re-tweets and shout-outs that the students truly feel welcome at Ohio University. I would need multiple hands to count the number of times I’ve seen Dean Lombardi in Baker Center during the lunch rush, or in Alden Library while I’m studying or just walking around campus.
Every time I see him and talk to him, I feel his care for the students. There is no better candidate for this position than Dean Lombardi.
On the other hand, I can count on one finger the number of times I saw Dr. Kent Smith, even before he took the position at the other university.
While I understand that Dr. Smith was a busy man, and the position is a big and busy position, I wish that as a student I could’ve seen the VP of Student Affairs more. Yes, he was as active as Dean Lombardi on Twitter, and just as caring. But he was nowhere near as visible as Dean Lombardi is.
I can only wonder if that’s what will happen to Dean Lombardi – will he end up hidden behind a desk as well, even unintentionally?
For the past three years, the face that I saw when I thought of OU’s administration was Dean Lombardi’s. I want the next classes that come to OU to see that face as well. Dean Lombardi has been nothing if not one of the most caring people I have ever met, and this has undoubtedly played in his favor during the selection process. Undoubtedly, this position will skyrocket him to great things, maybe even things beyond OU.
I get it … VP is a nice title. He has basically run the office in Dr. Smith’s absence this year. VP comes with a sizeable raise to Dean Lombardi’s current salary that he undoubtedly deserves.
However, I don’t want future Bobcats to be left in the hands of anyone other than Lombardi. I don’t trust anyone else.
Tom Pinney is a junior studying political science.
