November 9, 2008

Bringing my fancy pants to Dayton

I visited the University of Dayton this past week, speaking to a couple of classes and then signing books and giving a presentation. I just wanted to take a moment and say that it was one of the best experiences to come out of this whole crazy book thing. Three days later, I'm still processing it.

There were a lot of memorable moments on my trip, but the thing that stays with me the most are the amazing students I met. The questions I got from students were of real depth, and the dialogues I had with them gave me a great deal to think about. I don't remember being that smart or that intellectually curious when I was in college, and I know I wasn't that well put-together. But then, my impressions of the University of Dayton were pretty much the same.

It's an impressive campus, with new facilities everywhere but still maintaining a sense of its history. UD is a Catholic university, run by the Marianists, who focus on issues of social justice and community, and it's clear that this focus permeates the thinking of the entire campus community. I was impressed by the level of commitment that the students maintained in building this spirit of community, both on campus and in the international service learning projects sponsored by the university.

So my thanks to Art and Tracey Jipson, as well as the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work, not just for having me on campus, but for making me feel welcome (bordering on superstar; my ego may never recover) and for giving me the chance to meet so many students and share Schuyler's story with them. I met some amazing people, and I can't wait to return to Dayton. How many times do you hear that?

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, you do look snazzy!

kris said...

Yay for a good UD experience. My brother LOVED it there and everything you said rings true to his experience.

Had the students read the book?

Annie B. said...

I was looking at your Flickr photostream connected with this picture. . .from your book signing on the 8th. Are Schuyler's long lost glasses back??

Anonymous said...

I attended your talk on Thrusday and I am so glad I went. I reccommended your book to my mom's friend who has two children with austism as I know she moved to a school district that could help her sons. Thank you so much for coming to dayton!

Anonymous said...

Can you give a sample of the kinds of questions
you got asked? I'd love to hear a couple, plus your
thoughts about them.

mooserbeans said...

I am gald that you had such a positive experience. It gives me hope that the next generation is more than what MTV would have us believe. I was going to lend your book to my amazingly bright 18 year old cousin. I absolutely will now.

mooserbeans said...

Alright, I meant glad not gald.

Anonymous said...

It really was great to be able to meet you, and hear your presentation. It was well worth the 2 hour drive.

Anonymous said...

Good deal Rob! I wanted to go to your appearance at UD (I live 30 min. south of Dayton) but my husband was out of town and I couldn't get a sitter. Glad to hear there may be a next time!

Anonymous said...

Glad I was able to attend as well. I wanted to take a minute to meet you afterward, but those smart, curious students were occupying you :) What struck me the most about your talk was that while most of it was info I already knew from reading the book and the blog, I still got goosebumps. Your love for Schuyler and your passion for being her advocate are very apparent.

I'm glad you enjoyed your time here. We'd love to have you back - and Schuyler and Julie too! (By the way... it's not always that warm in November, as I'm sure you know from living in Michigan. Today it's 40.)

Buddha Bites said...

It was awesome to get to meet you as well and to have the book signed, and I agree that even though we've been following you for so many years, it was like hearing it all over again for the first time. You get a picture of what someone might be like, and you are in person exactly as you are in here or how I imagined. We'd love to have you back in Ohio. I came in from Columbus with a friend, and she enjoyed it as well. She'll be reading your book shortly.

agentXXX said...

Yay for a good experience at UD. I'm a Flyer twice over (both degrees), and wholeheartedly agree with your statement that a commitement to service and community pervades the campus. It is the best thing about the University!

Unknown said...

Sorry I missed this Rob (stupid family thing in TN), hopefully we can meet up next time. Since I work for UD's Research Institute I don't get much interaction with the students but what I do have confirms what you said. Although in many ways they are typical college kids (as evidenced by the copious numbers of empty beer cases littering the streets of the Ghetto-whoops "South Side Student Neighborhood" on Mondays) they are very service and community focused. It's a great place to work.