NORFOLK
Old Dominion University acting President John R. Broderick welcomed faculty and staff to campus Wednesday with a few jokes and some cheerleading for the school.
“As a former journalist and 20 years on college campuses, I’ve sat through a lot of these speeches,” he said. “Notice I said 'sat through,’ not 'listened to.’ This will be the USA Today version, not the New York Times magazine version.”
Broderick, who took over temporarily for departed President Roseann Runte in June, addressed new and returning employees at the school’s annual state of the university talk.
And, he was brief.
The speech highlighted two records - more than 23,000 students on campus and 85 percent of freshman living on campus - and other high points such as ODU athletes’ recent Olympics success.
Broderick touched on the campus growth evidenced by the construction equipment outside the hall. The school is building new dormitories as well as football facilities for a team scheduled to start play in 2009.
“We strive to be the best we can be,” Broderick said. “But if we get bigger without getting better, I’ll choose better every time.”
The line earned a hearty round of applause.
He urged his listeners to become advocates for the school, since money for advertising is scarce.
“People judge the whole by the part they know,” he said. “Help me tell the story of what makes this a better place each and every day.”
Jim Washington, (757) 446-2536, jim.washington@pilotonline.com
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