SGA Hosts Q&A With President Spina And Chief Chatman

Claire Schmig
Staff Writer

President Eric Spina and UD Police Chief Chatman held a question and answer session available to all students Wednesday. They tackled a range of questions about administrative priorities, UD’s partnerships with the Dayton area and student life. Jamie Vieson, president of SGA, served as moderator for the event.

Q: As a student from the Dayton area, I appreciate everything the university does to integrate itself into the Dayton community. However, there is still a disconnect present between the city and the university. What steps are you taking to close the gap between the city and UD?

Spina: I wanted to be the president of a university that had a good relationship with their city. The city is in our name, we’re not going anywhere.

I want to lower the barriers and create more opportunities to get out of the university and into the community. If the city isn’t strong, it will affect our ability to be a great institution.

Q: One of the very first things I heard when taking my campus tour was the word, “community.” UD is very inclusive, but there are some, for example international or minority students, that don’t feel that way. What are you doing to expand boundaries?

Spina: This is an issue we definitely need to tackle. Since the day I was announced as president, I wanted to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.

We need many forms of diversity to enrich our campus. Our vice president of Diversity and Inclusion is working hard to ensure increased diversity on campus but also that those students feel welcome.

Chatman: Engage with Center for International Programs!
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Q: President Spina, what are your top priorities?

Spina: I established three priorities when I started and they remain the same.

First, we are a tuition-driven institution, which limits our flexibility to do a lot of things. We need to diversify our revenue base.

Second, diversity remains a challenge. This year our freshman class is the most diverse in UD’s history. But this is only one class, and all levels need to be more diverse.

Third, although the affinity for UD is off-the-charts, we need a bigger reputation. Anyone who touches this place loves it, but we’re the best-kept secret in the country.

Q: Chief Chatman, what are some priorities for keeping campus safe?

Chatman: I can beat the engagement drum all day! I want students to be engaged and interact with us. My responsibility is to address people’s feeling of security. I don’t want you to have to worry about safety, I just want you to graduate in four years.
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Q: It’s clear that both public safety and administration care about students’ well-being. What are you doing to promote mental health and services available to students?

Spina: We are putting additional budget dollars towards mental health services. If students are experiencing issues that are affecting their ability to be successful, we need to have resources available so that they are supported.

Chatman: I recognize the need for officers to be well-versed in all scenarios. More than half of UD’s police officers are certified in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training. They are able to help students in all sorts of scenarios.

Q: What is being done to keep campus and students safe on St. Patrick’s Day?

Chatman: The important thing for students to know is the day isn’t much different than any other day. It is not an enforcement-driven endeavor.

The only thing I’m concerned about is dangerous behavior. If I’m seeing people enjoying their property and socializing in a responsible way, I enjoy that. If we see dangerous situations, shame on me if I don’t address it.

Q: How can students better support you?

Spina: I’ve recognized to best represent the university, I need to know students and what is working and what is not. I want students to be authentic in their interactions with me.

Photo Taken By Claire Schmig/Staff Writer