McRobbie lunches with new students

Most students go four years without ever meeting the University president.\nBut Michael Coleman got to sit at a small table and eat lunch with him. And Coleman hasn’t even started classes at IU.\nThe incoming freshman from Indianapolis was among 10 students from the Groups Student Support Services Program who had lunch with new IU President Michael McRobbie on Monday in the Indiana Memorial Union.\nAs Indianapolis television news cameras and inquisitive Orientation program parents looked on, McRobbie, who began his term July 1, chatted with the students and answered questions on topics ranging from diversity and raising admissions standards to his favorite public speakers. \nEven though the session had about as much intimacy as a press conference, McRobbie received rave reviews from Coleman and his peers.\nAndres Jara, an incoming freshman and Groups student from Whiting, Ind., proudly showed off a photograph on his cell phone of him and McRobbie making silly faces.\n“He had a sandwich with me, and I had a pizza,” he said, grinning.\nMcRobbie used the media event to highlight the Groups program, which provides guidance and support for specially-selected minority and underprivileged students at IU. He also took to opportunity to pledge an increased level of visibility and access to students. \n“I intend to do things like this on a regular basis,” he said.\nMcRobbie also said he was looking at holding regular office hours during which students could come to see him. It is widely believed that the trustees hired McRobbie with the understanding that he would have a higher public profile at IU and throughout the state than did his predecessor Adam Herbert.\nJanis Wiggins, the director of Groups, said this was the first time an IU president has taken the time meet with her students in person. Wiggins said meeting with the new president was a perfect introduction to IU for her new students.\n“One goal with students is to get them connected to the University,” she said. “And this is a wonderful connection.”