After a long day of work, President E. Gordon Gee just wants to be one of the guys.
Students enjoy President E. Gordon Gee's company at last year's Sammy Fest, a party at the Sigma Alpha Mu house."Students are the liveliest part of any university, and I will tell you that after a 10- or 12-hour day of back-to-back meetings, it is a treat for me to spend an evening with students," Gee said in an e-mail.
Gee is well-known at Ohio State for his tendency to seek out students, whether at sporting events or fraternity parties. He was a fraternity brother while he attended the University of Utah, and at OSU he stays close to his Greek-life roots.
Ashley Sinram, a sophomore in international studies, saw Gee at a "Halloween in April" party hosted by Alpha Epsilon Pi her freshman year. When Sinram ran into him, Gee acted like anyone else at the party: "Oh you look wonderful! It is nice to see you here," he said.
Joanna Lenefonte, left, smiles with Gee and Erin Toav at a Chi Omega and Beta Theta Pi sorority event at Wendell's Alumni Grille last winter.Gee often finds student activities, but sometimes students find him, too. Spencer Schaffer, a freshman in business, said that one of his friends e-mailed the president to see if he could spend time with him.
Gee replied by inviting Schaffer and his friend to a basketball game.
"He paid for our tickets and we got to sit in the private box," Schaffer said. He said that he and his friend enjoyed the time, talking about school and the president's love of Diet Dr. Pepper.
"He's very personable and friendly. He makes you feel at home and like you are the only one there even though there's over 50,000 people here," Schaffer said.
But Gee isn't just a party animal. He said he also enjoys speaking to classes and parents too.
"I think he's a funny guy," Schaffer said. "His presence is contagious. He makes me proud to be a Buckeye."
Garren Cabral can be reached at cabral.10@osu.edu.
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