Maybe it's because of my college background. Quite a few people I knew in school didn't regularly read a newspaper, watch tv news, or catch up on current events on-line. In fact, I distinctly remember a girl on my lacrosse team didn't even know who the Vice President of the United States was! We all laughed, but to me, she epitomized the stereotypes about "typical" college students who are self-centered and unaware of the world around them.

So today, when I found out Old Dominion University's President was leaving to go to a University in Canada, I had my doubts about whether or not ODU students would care. I remember my undergraduate President's name, but I don't ever remember having a conversation with him. If a news reporter had approached me and asked me questions about him, I would have no idea what to say. So, I didn't have high expectations when I went to ODU's campus tonight.

But I was pleasantly surprised. There weren't many students on campus because it's still winter break, but we did manage to track down four current students, and ALL of them knew President Roseann Runte! Jackpot. They all seemed genuinely surprised that Runte was leaving, and had good things to say about her time at ODU. They'd seen her at basketball games and school events. They say she was always walking around, meeting people, and socializing with students. All of the students we talked to also knew about Runte's accomplishments at the school (the construction projects, bringing football back).

But it seems to me Runte's biggest accomplishment may be getting her students to pay attention. Using her energy and enthusiasm to get the students to look outside their own lives and notice what's going on at their school and in the world around them.