Are you going to watch the GO’p?

An article by Amy Lockard    No Comments

On November 9, 2011 Oakland University, my alma mater, is hosting a GOP candidate presidential debate. Politics aside, I think this is a great thing for Oakland County, Michigan, and Oakland University. I think Oakland is a great school, and deserves to be in the national spotlight.

Oakland is a great place to get an education. I was able to do so there by learning in the Journalism department from people who actually worked in news in Detroit, and who had great reputations for the work they did. One of which was Neal Shine, a former Publisher of the Detroit Free Press. I was lucky enough to have him as a professor for two classes at OU. He even called me at my house once to give me some much needed advice before I started one of internships. I also learned a great deal about how to interview people, and create video news stories from Roger Weber of Channel 4 WDIV. While I didn’t end up in TV news, I use what he taught me every week when I put together our sports show KICKOFF WEEKLY, and other news videos that I create. (Have you watched any of our videos lately? You can find them by clicking on the VIDEOS tab at the top of our web site. I put a lot of work in to them each week, so check them out, you might see someone you know.) I even remember one of my professors bringing in copies of the Spinal Column to class one day!

I believe my education from OU gave me what I needed to jump right into this business right away. I had a job in my field of study when I still had three weeks of school left. I’ve been here ever since, and I am doing what I love.

So, I am very proud that OU will be hosting the debate tomorrow. I received an email from the Alumni Association inviting me to going their watch party on Wednesday, but I declined to respond, as figured that I would be busy doing my job, and out photographing high school sports events on West Oakland County. It would have been perfect to return to OU to cover the presidential debates. I have covered sports games there a few times, as Kettering and Mott basketball teams have held their “Backyard Brawl” there the past few years. I am guessing that if this debate goes off well, this won’t be the last big event at OU, and next time, maybe I will get to be there as a journalist.

***One thing I ask of CNBC, PLEASE don’t mention that the name of the venue where the debates are being held is called the “O’Rena.” That is the name of the basketball arena at OU.  Sorry OU, but I think it is the least thoughtful name for an arena. Was there no important alumni, donor, coach, founder, or faculty member that you could have named it the SOMETHING-OR-OTHER-SO-IN-SO FIELDHOUSE? Really? Maybe they are waiting for that big donor to come around so they then can rename it something less ridiculous?  Time will tell, and maybe the national spotlight will help with that.

In any event, GO GRIZZLIES! (Yes, I am a Grizzly, and not a Pioneer. I think I was part of the first, if not one of the first, classes to enter as freshman Golden Grizzly. If you are an Oakland University alumni, you know what that means.)