Issue date: 2/15/10 Section: Features

Media Credit: Shane Spirik

Like I did, I'm sure many of you got several e-mails informing that Bill Strickland would be speaking on campus. Like I did, I'm sure many of you thought, Bill who? Like I did, I'm sure many of you brushed it off as a boring lecture that wasn't going to be very interesting. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. If you didn't go, I can legitimately, without a doubt say that you missed out. Bill Strickland is an amazing person, born and raised on the Northside of Pittsburgh, who is a real life hero. As soon as Bill Strickland said, "There's not a whole lot that affection, sunshine, flowers, and good food can't cure," I was in.

Before the lecture, I was walking to Massey where it was going to be held, and I was anticipating what the crowd size was going to be like. Small, I remember thinking. I hope no one is too upset. However, when I walked in the doors there were only a few seats left, and I was almost a half hour early. Apparently, some people got the memo that this guy was the real deal. As four o'clock drew nearer, Massey was still flooding with people. People were standing in the aisles, and some people even had to sit on the stage. Provost Jamison informed everyone that this was by far the largest audience to hear a speaker on campus. Impressive, but I had yet to hear the guy speak so I was holding back judgment. As I was sitting in my seat, which might I add was only 2 rows back and front center, when Bill Strickland strolled in and took a seat almost directly in front of me. How did I know it was Bill Strickland? Because I had Googled him the day before. He was very relaxed and was talking to some people he knew. I wanted to get a picture of him but was behind his back, so I passed my camera down to a fellow student, Sean Whitfield, and asked him to see if he could get a quick shot. Sure enough, Sean tapped him on the shoulder and said, "Mr. Strickland, can we get a picture for the paper?" Bill turned and laughing said, "Sure, as long you promise not to call me Mr. Strickland. It makes me feel old." A sense of humor? Check! Maybe I was going to like this guy.

Once the show began to get underway, President Del'Omo gave a little welcome to everyone and then Provost Jamison gave a more formal introduction. He talked a little about Bill's background and his job and so on. Then Bill took the stage. He looked relaxed and confident. He started off by saying, "I don't have a speech prepared. It's too late in the day to torture you folks like that." Okay, now I was really starting to like this guy. Fellow RMU student Heidi Hickle apparently felt the same way. She said that, "I thought to myself, "Oh man, this is going to be lame,'. But he changed my mind as soon as he started speaking," said Heidi.

Continued...

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