Dean of students mingles at open house

The smell of popcorn might have drawn the students into the Frangipani Room, but many of them were there to meet Pete Goldsmith, the Dean of Students.

After a pretzel and some lemonade, students lined up to meet the dean Monday in the Indiana Memorial Union.

The event was an effort from the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President Karen Hanson to introduce the dean to the students. The Division of Student Affairs also set up tables around the room to let students know about the services it offers.

Assistant Dean of Students Suzanne Phillips said many students often overlook what the office offers, and she hoped they would take advantage of the services.

Freshman Mychael Spencer was there to find out about Goldsmith.

“I came to meet the Dean of Students,” Spencer said. “I don’t know how important it is and I think being here I can better understand.”

Goldsmith walked around the room introducing himself to everyone in hopes of getting to know more about his students.

He said he wanted to meet as many as possible and plans to attend several events in the future to show his support for students.

“Invite me,” he asked of student organizations. “I want to find out what’s going on with students.”

That is exactly why Monica Embrey was there. Embrey hopes to go to graduate school and came to represent the Beyond Coal campaign, an environmental group on campus.

Andrea Robledo, from the Office of Student Organizations and Leadership Development and advisor for the National Pan-Hellenic Council and Multi-Cultural Greek Council, said it is a very important thing to find out as much as you can about IU’s administration.

“Students underestimate the power that they have to make things happen,” she said. “Get to know the dean, gain an understanding of what his role is to the University and the issues that affect students. Once you know, you know how to approach any changes you want to see.”