Rumors began that former Governor John Kasich is being considered as a replacement for current Ohio State University (OSU) President Michael Drake a day after he announced his retirement.
“One day after the surprise announcement that Ohio State University President Michael Drake will retire, there is serious talk about former Ohio Governor John Kasich taking the helm at OSU,” reported NBC4.
One day after the surprise announcement that Ohio State University president Michael Drake will retire, there is serious talk about former Ohio Governor John Kasich taking the helm at OSU.https://t.co/KZEKP15GB1
— NBC4 Columbus (@nbc4i) November 22, 2019
Dr. Drake, who has been Ohio State’s president since 2014, thanked the school’s community in his official announcement.
“Ohio State is a very special place. Brenda and I are blessed to be part of the incredible Buckeye community. The work being done at this university through teaching, learning, research, creative expression, community engagement and leading-edge partnerships is unprecedented in our 150-year history,” he said. “Ohio State has enjoyed record successes in several of our most important strategic markers and has tremendous momentum. It was important to Brenda and me that the university be accelerating on a path forward as we decided to begin the transition.”
OSU touted several milestones reached under Drake’s tenure, including a record number of applications, increased diversity and all-time high retention rates.
One issue that occurred during Drake’s presidency for which he will not want to be remembered is the outing of a former team doctor as a sex abuser. Dr. Richard Strauss, who committed suicide before he could be tried, has been accused by as many as 250 plaintiffs, including dozens of former student-athletes, of molestation and worse. The University is facing millions in lawsuits.
Although Kasich has no education background, he’s the son of a mailman, a career politician and a CNN commentator, reasons were suggested in the NBC4 story for why the never-Trumper could fill the role. Members of OSU’s Board of Trustees apparently told the media Kasich ran the state, so they believed he could run the university.
And most of the trustees were appointed by the former Governor.
One Legislator who preferred to remain anonymous told The Ohio Star, “I hope they bring back [former OSU Football Coach Jim] Tressel.”
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Beth Lear is a reporter at The Ohio Star. Follow Beth on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “John Kasich” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0. Background Photo “Ohio State University” by Kevin Payravi. CC BY 2.0.
