President Bob Davies and students sit at a reserved table in Winslow Dining Hall for Lunch with the President.
Murray State’s Lunch with the President, held in Winslow Dining Hall, began in order to familiarize students with the University president in a relaxed setting.
During the lunch, students talked about multiple topics such as what makes Murray State great and some issues on campus.
President Bob Davies said he decided to participate in Lunch with the President because anything that has to do with the students is something he is willing to get involved in.
“I think it is a good way to get to sit down with students, answer any questions and raise discussions that they want to talk about,” Davies said.
Paula Amols, director of Dining Services and Racer Hospitality and creator of Lunch with the President, said the idea developed to provide an informal way for students to talk with the president.
“We got the idea when Davies first came, we knew how engaged he is with the students and felt like it would be a good way for Davies to talk face-to-face with the students,” Amols said.
Ryan Knight, senior from Benton, Ill., said he was interested in Lunch with the President because it was a way to talk about issues and improvements on campus.
“Lunch with the President is a good opportunity to speak with administrative professionals about issues and ways to improve those issues from the people that it directly impacts,” Knight said.
In an email to The Murray State News, Paula Jaco, sophomore from Metropolis, Ill., said she signed up for Lunch with the President because it was important to have a connection between faculty and students.
“I decided to sign up for Lunch with the President because I feel that it is important to have a real connection among the faculty and the students at Murray State,” Jaco said.
At the lunch, she asked a few questions about housing.
“When I went into the lunch the questions I had prepared for the president were about some concerns within the residential colleges, such as renovations, budgets and also some new ideas from myself and the residents,” Jaco said.
The next event will be Dinner with the President is Oct. 13 at 6 p.m.
There will also be another Lunch Nov. 12. Space is limited and there is only room for 10 to 15 students to attend, Amols said.
Not only is Lunch with the President a way to let students familarize themselves with the president, but it is also a way to introduce students to new food.
“Today the cold soup was served; I do not think it was that big of a hit, but at least everyone tried it,” Amols said.
The menu consisted of Peach Buttermilk Soup, a mixed green salad, Bourbon Glazed Ham and a Tuxedo Torte.
Students are able to go online to sign up for the lunch.
“Also if students have any special dietary needs, we will accommodate to them,” Amols said. “There is a space at the bottom of the sign up page where students can put whether they have a special dietary need.”
She said Lunch with the President is a unique way to let students talk with the President about anything that is going on. It opens up the opportunity to sit and talk with the president that students otherwise might not have.
“I hope that with Lunch with the President students take away that they have a voice,” Davies said. “I hope that they know that their suggestions are taken seriously and are heard.”
Story by Brittany Risko, Staff writer