Students and faculty of Ohio State chanting in front of University President Michael Drake’s office on April 6. Mitch Hooper | Lantern reporter

Students and faculty of Ohio State chanting in front of University President Michael Drake’s office on April 6. Mitch Hooper | Lantern reporter

The university was surprised and disappointed to read the litany of false and inflammatory claims made in the April 13 Lantern story about recent protests. (“The activist-admin disconnect.”)

While these students protest about not being heard, the facts are quite the opposite. University officials have conducted dialogue and forums for students and our broader university community regarding these issues more than 30 times. In some cases, we have been engaging with students for years; in another the university’s well-publicized goals already go far beyond these students’ requests.

The article in question also contains an absurd assertion that the Board of Trustees appointed senior leaders using criteria other than excellence and achievement. This statement was inappropriate, offensive and completely false. It was beneath us.

 

Chris Davey

Spokesman, The Ohio State University