Dear Students,
Think back with me to your first-year student convocation. On that day, you were officially inducted into the Ohio University community. As you may recall, I discussed a set of standards, values and expectations that come with being a member of the Bobcat family.
As we reflect upon what it means to be a family, an important word that comes to mind is respect. Respect for ourselves and respect for the other members of our family. That means welcoming new students to campus. It means helping a fellow student who is walking home alone. It means looking someone in the eye and having a conversation about your differences, and realizing you have more in common than you thought.
Ohio University is a place like no other! Our pride, our altruism, the care and respect that we show to our neighbors and our fellow Bobcats… It is all part of the Ohio University experience. It is what makes us unique from other university families. And the future of that experience rests with you!
As we move through this week, which will end with the city’s annual Halloween event, we all need to consider the importance of safety, civility and community. I encourage us to reexamine our collective responsibility to engage in lawful behavior and report suspicious activity to the police. And let us support one another in the Ohio University spirit – carrying forward a 209-year tradition of care that begins and ends with you, our students.
Have a safe weekend!
Roderick J. McDavis is president of Ohio University
