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Ohio University President Cancels Farewell Event
By: Nick Niehaus
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A farewell event for departing Ohio University President Roderick McDavis was canceled Tuesday when the administration learned of a planned student protest.
Protests have increased recently on campus as students have voiced their opposition to President Donald Trump’s executive order banning travel from seven mostly Muslim countries. The opposition to Ohio University President Roderick McDavis was sparked by his refusal to acquiesce to student demands that Ohio University be named a sanctuary campus protecting illegal immigrants, and by his support of the arrest of 70 student protestors by campus police.
In the President’s email announcing the event’s cancellation, McDavis said the decision was made to curb problems associated with the protests.
“We want to be sure that campus is not going to be open to more difficulties and stress at the expense of a farewell to us,” he said. “We also have concerns for our OUPD officers and want to avoid unnecessary run-ins between OUPD officers and protesters who feel they have legitimate issues and concerns.”
The cancellation was apparently successful as the protest was also canceled and no protesting students showed up at Walter Hall, the venue where the farewell event was to be held.
Members of McDavis’ staff said they were disappointed that the event was canceled.
McDavis, who has been with Ohio University for 13 years, plans to leave office on Feb. 17 to join am executive recruiting company in Washington D.C.