University of Akron Interim President Matt Wilson’s comfortable style and positive message were hits Wednesday among students who turned out for a town hall meeting at the Student Union.
Wilson, who was invited for a Q&A forum sponsored by UA’s Undergraduate Student Government (USG), left the high table and chair set up for him in a corner and walked around the room with a microphone to answer questions and mingle with students.
He told the crowd that students come first, and he has an open-door policy.
“My style has always been open communication. If there have to be adjustments we’re going to talk about it,” he said. “It’s not going to be a blind move. I’m not going to wave a magic wand and make a change, that’s not the way I operate.”
Students said they like Wilson’s style and the way he spoke to students one on one.
“I think the big thing is that although he said he’s only the interim president for 18 months, he is going to make the most of things in that time, and I think we need that, we need immediate change,” Courtney Bosetti, 21, a public relations major, said after the meeting. “He’s listening to students, and that’s good because we’re the ones most affected by things because we are investing our time and money. I believe he wants to make a difference.”
Khalil Smith, 22, a senior majoring in media production said: “I’ve seen him about 10 times, and it’s only the second week of school. I’ve seen him at various locations on campus and at events, one was downtown at the [UA] EXL Bluprints program at BLU Jazz, another was at the freshman move-in where he was helping students move in. I think he brings fresh energy. I really like that he comes out into the community and is very accessible.”
During the meeting, students had plenty of questions for Wilson. Justin Brown, 21, a nursing student, wanted to know about transparency. Others took it a step further and wanted to know whether or not tuition fees were going to be hiked behind closed doors.
Wilson, who has been in his position for eight weeks, said he has no intention of raising fees and has been at several meetings with the Ohio Department of Education to make sure the university is on the same page with them.
“The state of Ohio is also interested in making sure students are getting an affordable education,” Wilson said.
“It is my intent moving forward to try to minimize things. If there are any adjustments that need to be made, you’ll know about it and you’ll hear it from me. Whatever I can do to get the word out about anything, that’s what I’m going to do, if it’s within my control.”
One of the toughest questions was about the future of graduate assistantships. There was an initiative on the table from the former administration to study whether or not those jobs should be eliminated.
“We’re going to address it together to include students, faculty and administrators in those discussions about graduate assistantships,” Wilson said.
“It’s something I know I need to discuss, but I haven’t had enough time to get it on my radar yet.”
Graduate assistant Bre Koch, 23, who is studying higher education administration, said she was happy the question was asked, because it definitely affects her.
“It eased my mind that it’s something he said he needs to address and will discuss it by bringing in other people to help make a collaborative decision,” she said.
After the event, Wilson said it’s the one question that troubled him because he couldn’t speak to it yet.
“It’s the natural instinct in me to tackle a question and not pass it off. I kind of want to be a one stop service, but it wasn’t a question I could answer,” Wilson said. “But it will come.”
USG President Megan Bodenschatz, 21, a senior majoring in public relations, said she was pleased with the turnout. Students were in and out but many were also seated in nearby lounge areas.
“I thought it would be a good opportunity for the students to come and meet the president after starting the school year knowing he’s here to support them …,” she said. “I didn’t want to wait. I thought this was a great way to start the year anew and make sure everyone’s hopes are high and people have confidence in the current administration.”
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.