Published: May 07, 2006 01:19 am            

OSU graduates proud of presidential prestige

By Cass Rains

Staff Writer



STILLWATER — Enid resident Tessa Miller liked what she heard Saturday from President George W. Bush during his speech at Oklahoma State University’s 113th spring commencement.

“I loved it,” said Miller, who graduated Saturday. “I was really glad I got to hear him speak.”

Miller said she especially enjoyed Bush’s initial comments.

“At the beginning, he was really humorous,” Miller said.

She said his comments about the absence of first lady Laura Bush and Laura’s disappointment at missing a romantic dinner at Stillwater’s popular college hang-out Eskimo Joe’s made her and her friends laugh.



Others students liked the prestige a presidential visit bestowed on OSU.



“It’s kind of a good thing,” said graduate Jared Janes, of Newcastle. “You don’t have to agree with his politics for it to be cool to have a sitting president speak at your school.”

Politics aside, Chris Leonard saw the president’s visit as a boost for the university.

“I think it’s good as far as exposure (for OSU),” said Leonard, of Tulsa. “I can’t say the president has been on anybody’s good side.”

While some mortar boards were decorated with orange and silver stickers, messages to parents or large W’s, one in the crowd read, “Not My Prez.”

One thing about commencement bothered Miller, though — the protesters. About 250 people gathered a block from the stadium, holding signs and chanting anti-Bush slogans.

“I didn’t like the protesters being there. It was really rude,” Miller said. “He (Bush) wasn’t even talking about politics. It was our commencement and they tried to ruin it.”

Before commencement, students awaited Bush’s arrival aboard Marine One from Enid’s Vance Air Force Base under an overcast sky, orange ponchos and cell phones in hand, looking for the perfect seat for OSU’s third presidential visit.

In May 1974, President Rich-ard Nixon addressed graduates. Sixteen years later, President George H.W. Bush spoke during OSU’s spring commencement.

State Rep. Curt Roggow, R-Hillsdale, said during the ceremony he also was there for the elder Bush’s speech in 1990.

“I thought (the president) did a great job,” said Roggow, who represents District 41. “I’m honored the president of the United States is here today, and it says a lot about our state.”

Bush left Stillwater after his speech, boarding Marine One for a return flight to Vance. He then flew on Air Force One back to Washington, D.C.

The president is speaking at three other colleges this year, May 11 at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, a school damaged by Hurricane Katrina; May 27 at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.; and June 19 at U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.