When Kent State University President Todd Diacon used his May 13 commencement address to send a message to state officials who are challenging Ohio’s public universities as a bastion for the privileged, the reaction was swift and supportive from alumni and friends of the university.
“There is in Ohio, among some state elected officials, a growing ivory tower accusation being leveled against our state’s public universities and against, quite frankly, Kent State University,” Diacon told thousands gathered for commencement.
State leaders, Diacon said, had it wrong – Kent State students do not live a privileged “ivory tower” existence, instead most work full time and carry a heavy course load.
“Our students graduating today are tough,” he said. “They do not live in an ivory tower. They are not pampered. They exhibited impressive grit as they persevered through the early semesters of COVID-19. They do not live in a secluded world marked by an aloof attitude.”
Paul Richardson, system senior vice president for major gifts, campaigns and engagement at Common Spirit Health in San Francisco, who received his master’s degree in higher education leadership and student personnel from Kent State in 1999, replied on LinkedIn:
“I would gladly be willing to speak to any Ohio congressional member who believes Kent State students live in an ivory tower. As a welfare kid who scraped to get to every level of education and career, I am more emblematic of our alumni base than the ivory tower comparison. I would wager that those lobbying from this position likely are from a much more privileged background than the average Kent State student. We’re scrappy, creative, hard-working. We are Kent State.”
“I love this speech,” Tonya Vinas, BA ‘89, who works as a content strategy team leader for Unreal Digital Group, said in LinkedIn comments.
She noted that her daughter graduated at the commencement ceremony with a bachelor’s degree from the College of Nursing.
“Nursing is a hard, hard job, and while she was training in the program, she caught COVID twice, literally endangering her life because she has a pre-existing condition. Now she's going to be working in a pediatric cardiac step-down unit taking care of kids who are fighting for their lives. Hardly an ivory tower,” Vinas said.
“I went to Kent on scholarships from the journalism school and the Honors College. Otherwise, I would not have been able to afford it,” she added.
Steven Marks, BA ' 76 economics, who retired after more than 40 years in the insurance industry, commented on LinkedIn: “Great job Todd Diacon. Kent has always had a diverse population. Graduation is a time for positive looks forward."
On Facebook, Akron resident Jennifer Tornichio-McCormick, who identifies herself as a stay-at-home mom who studied communications at The University of Akron, commented:
“God bless you Todd Diacon and Kent State University! Thank you for caring about people with unseen disabilities! Your teachers and students have made such a difference in our family's lives! I only have tears of happiness and thankfulness! I pray for you and your school and all of your teachers and students every day and appreciate all of the important work and care that you do!”
Diacon’s comments come at a time when students across the state, including some from Kent State, are facing possible curriculum changes and other prescriptions aimed at higher education under the proposed Ohio Senate Bill 83.
Read more about President Diacon’s speech or view it on video.