You can't keep Goodman down

In grade school a chubby Mike Goodman caught the acting bug. He tried out for the role of the fat kid in the movie “Little Giants,” but did not get the part because he was not big enough.

Fast forward 10 years: Goodman is playing the role of political activist as he enters his newly-elected position as president of Ohio State’s Undergraduate Student Government for the 2003-2004 school year.

Goodman, a native of Chicago, grew up in a loving home with his older sister, Jenny, and his parents.

“Just the way my life has worked – I have a close-knit, smaller family,” he said.

While his entire family is supportive of him, Goodman found a role model in his grandfather, who recently passed away.

“We were really close,” he said. “He was pretty sick for a while, but he was always positive and energetic. He stayed upbeat.”

These traits are important during times of adversity, Goodman said.

Growing up, Goodman described himself as a little crazy, but still a good kid. His mother, Bonnie Goodman, agreed.

“He was a great child,” she said. “As a mom, you don’t want to just walk around talking about your kids, but you couldn’t help it with him.”

Less of a troublemaker and more inquisitive, her son was driven at an early age, Bonnie Goodman said.

“You couldn’t get mad at him,” she said. “He was a whirlwind – always into everything – but he was busy, not bad. He always knew where he was going.”

Goodman’s drive led him to be active in the student government in high school as well as on the track and football teams.

There were a few rare moments in his childhood when he caused problems, Bonnie Goodman said.

“When I was a toddler my parents had taken me to a restaurant, and they were letting me play around on the floor. I guess I snuck under the table and started untying all of these old women’s shoes, and I got kicked out of the restaurant and banned,” Goodman said.

His enthusiasm towards life led to his decision to attend OSU. After visiting his sister, who was an undergraduate at OSU at the time, he decided the school was right for him.

“Another part of it was I loved high school. I had a ton of friends, was very active, had a good social life, did pretty good in school, and I wanted to see if I could start new and create a new Mike Goodman,” he said. “I wanted to see if I had it in me to go to a place where I didn’t know anyone and had no established roots. I liked that challenge.”

When Goodman left for college, it was a bittersweet moment for his parents, but they were very proud, Bonnie Goodman said.

While at school, Mike Goodman keeps his family close to his heart.

“I’m a mama’s boy,” he said.

Getting acclimated to college took Goodman some time, but he found his niche after freshman year, when he met some of his closest friends. When Goodman is not spending time in the USG office, he is in the company of his friends. Unfortunately, that time is limited.

“It’s hard to walk from one place to another with him because he knows everyone,” said Goodman’s friend Ian Shafran, a sophomore in psychology.

From Thursday night to Saturday night, Goodman finds time to be a typical college student and go out with friends.

“He’s not big on house parties, like the crazy freshman girl scene. He’s bigger on going to bars and downtown. A classy atmosphere – never hanging out with sloppy people,” said Goodman’s friend Mitch Shankman, a junior in finance.

Running mate Frank Sasso had the opportunity to see the fun side of Goodman while campaigning.

After a pre-campaign party was held, Goodman, Sasso and friends went to Pita Pit.

“Mike was so excited about the campaign,” Sasso said.

He said Goodman went up to each of the Pita Pit employees and interviewed them like they were on a talk show.

“He was like ‘What’s up, Pita Pit – what’s your name?’ ” Sasso said.

Goodman’s friend and campaign manager Deb Mason, a sophomore in English, remembers Mike Goodman dressing up as “Mullet Man” for Halloween.

“He wore a mullet and a flannel shirt, and carried around an empty 40,” Mason said.

Sasso has also noticed Goodman’s fascination with the 1980s hairstyle.

“Mike has a distinct and passionate love for the mullet,” Sasso said.

Goodman’s mix of seriousness and shenanigans give way to being a good friend. His friends see him as a peacemaker and loyal person.

“If there’s ever an issue with somebody, and any of his friends are ever in a fight, he will make sure to jump in and try to talk the situation out,” Shankman said.

Goodman’s female friends see him in a different light: as a big-brother type.

“He’s very protective of his girl friends,” Mason said. He won’t let any of them walk home alone, she said.

“He also gives good guy advice,” Mason said.

As for women advice, Goodman hasn’t the need for it, as he is constantly busy.

“A girlfriend is something that I would like to make a part of my life, but I would only do it if I can do it well, and sometimes feel that with the time constraints that I have I wouldn’t be the best boyfriend, right now. But I am always looking for it, and I think that if I found the right person I would be able to make that a priority,” Goodman said.

The right person in Goodman’s book would be someone with substance who makes him think, he said. He likes girls who are on the shorter side, because he is 5 feet 7 inches tall.

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