by Ryne Weiss, Academy Avatar

Western Kentucky University President  Dr. Gary Ransdell has been busy as of late.  Between meeting with departments across the WKU campus and maintaining the university’s presence in Frankfort during the legislative session, there’s a lot on the president’s plate.  Not to mention, he just started using Facebook.

Despite the busy schedule, Dr. Ransdell met with Gatton Academy students for an informal seminar where he set out to answer questions on the minds of the Academy students about topics ranging from research and study abroad opportunities to the school’s history and even some absurd things, such as his pick for the Super Bowl and a certain “artful” tree on campus.

In his opening remarks, he told us about Western Kentucky University’s already-impressive and ever-expanding international outreach.

“We are in talks with the China to make Western one of 62 schools in the United States to be named a Confucius Institute, with funding from the Chinese government,” Ransdell said. “We would be the first in Kentucky, and in one of 38 states given this honor.”

An impressive statistic on its own, and easily fitting in with Western’s commitment to study abroad programs. “Over Winter Term we had students all over the globe. Kenya, Greece, China.”

As always, Dr. Ransdell was quick to let students know how of his pride in the Gatton Academy, and how important its students are to the University. “The Gatton Academy is becoming the wonderful program we knew it would be, as evidenced by all 66 juniors returning for their second semester. No campus in Kentucky was as prepared as WKU to receive the Gatton Academy program, with our infrastructure, honors program, and research.”

After his short introduction, he fielded questions from Academy students. No topic was off limits, and some of the questions are of a more bizarre nature.

Q: What about Western’s recent recession of REU programs?

A: We’re doing a number of things. We’ve got a strong emphasis on undergraduate research. We’re emphasizing it and it’s moving up on our agenda.

Q: Are they ever going to cut down the “bunny tree” located near the top of the College Heights portion of campus?

A: (laughs) Probably, sooner or later it’ll have to come down. I have to sign off on every tree that is cut down, whether it’s diseased, dead, or struck by lightning. Part of my job is preserving the natural beauty our campus. My rule is, you take one down, you have to plant two.

Q: My mom told me to ask, what exactly does “The Spirit Makes the Master” mean?

A: It really means whatever you want it to mean to you. To me it means, what it means to our founder, Henry Hardin Cherry. To me it refers to an inner confidence, a self-esteem, and a bond with a campus. I boil it down to leadership, and the inner fortitude to succeed and lead. It defines our character as an institution.

Q: What are they planning on doing with Thompson North Wing? Are there plans to tear it down?

A: I hope so. (laughs and applause from crowd) It’s old, tired. I don’t even want to think about how many chemicals have run through that building since 1958. As soon as we have the funding, that building is coming down.

Q: Will we be getting a new football team this year?

A: Is that a request or a question? (laughs) In a way, yes. We’re getting a new coaching staff and attitude. Recruiting season is over, and I can tell you it is the most talented group of players to walk this campus.

Q: Who do you want to win the Super Bowl?

A: Saints. I think it’s a magical story how after all that team and that city have been through to have the Saints in the Super Bowl.

Q: What are some plans for the future of the Gatton Academy?

A: Right now is not quite the climate, but when things improve we are planning on adding an extra 80 academy students, 40 on each side with an expansion of the building. You have to be realistic about the finances.  Now is just not the right time, but it is something we plan on down the line.