Welcome from Burns Hargis
Monday, August 18, 2008
August 18, 2008
Published in today’s issue of the Daily O’Collegian
“First Cowgirl”, Ann, and I want to welcome you to the start of another exciting school
year at Oklahoma State University.
If you are one of the more than 5,300 new students at OSU, we are delighted you have
chosen our university to pursue your higher education goals. You have made a great
choice! If you are a returning student, we are pleased you are back and hope you
had a great break.
OSU is a special place and I encourage you to take in everything you can. Participate
in campus activities. You will meet great people, develop essential skills and expand
your horizons. When I look back on my time as a student at OSU, this involvement
was some of the best education I received. Your time at OSU will be a time of personal
growth, as well as a time to build relationships that will last the rest of your life.
I especially hope you will interact with students from the many countries represented
on our campus. You will be living, working and “playing” in a global marketplace,
so start learning about it now, and also consider studying abroad.
It is an exciting time at OSU. Our campus is undergoing historic construction that
will make us more competitive in academics and athletics, and we enjoyed record fund-raising
this summer for faculty endowed positions, which will translate into a great educational
experience.
OSU was founded in 1890 and one thing that has not changed in all those years is our
land-grant mission of teaching, research and service. Land-grant universities were
created during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, who believed for the good of the
country and its citizens that everyone should have access to a college education,
and those colleges should serve the state and the world. We remain committed to Lincoln’s
vision.
Today we have an expanded vision of a modern land-grant university that cuts across
disciplines to better prepare students for a new world; and expands outreach across
our state and around the globe. That means creating a truly collaborative campus
where students in the fine arts can discuss ideas with engineering students, or business
majors can explore potential products with design, housing and merchandizing students.
The possibilities are endless. Thanks to a gift from Amy and Malone Mitchell, we
will begin an entrepreneurship program to benefit all students and help us pursue
our vision.
OSU took a significant step to make our campus healthier when we went tobacco free
on July 1. The change was supported by student, faculty and staff leadership and
creates a healthier environment in which to learn, work and visit.
One of the best OSU traditions is athletics. I encourage you to join the fun and
excitement this fall at bigger and better Boone Pickens Stadium. Our football team
needs your support for what I think will be a great season. A full, rocking stadium
will translate into victories. And, believe it or not, victories will translate into
helping lift the entire university. Please come to the fun!
I hope your semester is successful and rewarding. Work hard. Be creative. Have
fun. Go Pokes!
