Smart university Presidents know how to butter up local government officials.
The online Herald only has the boring version of the story, UM, Coral Gables tout partnership at annual meeting, in which town and gown recited their talking points about their accomplishments in the past year. That story ends, however, with this:
The manager listed his sole complaint, and addressed it to Pat Whitely, vice president for student affairs and a guiding force behind the new SAC and its rebuilt Rathskeller. “Those delicious onion rings that sustained me through my college days are no longer on the menu,” he said. Salerno was a UM student in the 1970s when the old Rat was a hub of activity and for gastronomical pursuits.
Shalala laughed, suggesting she’d look into the omission.
The followup by Howard Cohen is in today’s print edition, Page 3B, and it’s more interesting than spoken equivalent of joint press releases:
City Manager Inspires Onion Rings
For the most part, University of Miami and CoralGables officials had nothing but praise for each other at the annual meeting last week.
The exception: Gables City Manger Pat Salerno found something missing from the Rathskeller at UM’s new $46.5 million Student Activities Center.
“Those delicious onion rings that sustained me through my college days are no longer on the menu,” Salerno lamented. UM President Donna Shalala chucked, suggesting she’d look into it.
The next day, the school announced that onions rings would return as a a special menu item when students hit classes in January. Salerno has a standing invitation to come taste test.
“I will add this item to the city’s list of accomplishments for this year,” he said. “I can’t wait to eat them.”
UM says the new snack will get a new name, too: SalernOrings.
Previously:
- Great University Presidents Understand the Importance of Feel-Good Stuff (Jul. 19, 20013)
- Shalala Knows How to Work Her Crowd (Feb. 23, 2012)
- UM President Donna Shalala Scores a Touchdown (Nov. 13, 2004)
