He knows president isn't an elected position, right?
President Michael Benson might just get the EKU Colonels promoted to Generals.
(via @EKUprez)
I will literally never complain about going to class again.
— Devan Dannelly (@DADannelly11) February 17, 2015
Eastern Kentucky University student Devan Dannelly was feeling pretty snow-bound after Kentucky was hit by the huge storms that affected much of the eastern U.S. last week, so the senior criminal justice major took to Twitter to tell the university president, Michael Benson, what it would take for him to come to class.
Yo @EKUPrez come shovel my driveway/road and I'll come to class tomorrow... deal???
— Devan Dannelly (@DADannelly11) February 17, 2015
What Devan forgot is that occasionally, people involved in higher education are actually invested in their students and communities, like EKU president Michael Benson. "I tweeted back asking for his address," Benson told the Richmond Register. "He probably didn't expect me to show up."
@DADannelly11 it's a deal. What's your address?
— Michael Benson (@EKUPrez) February 17, 2015
@DADannelly11 on my way!!
— Michael Benson (@EKUPrez) February 17, 2015
Warm up the bus, you're about to get schooled.
Devan almost certainly didn't expect Benson to show up, because when he did (along with a friend who saw the tweets), the only person at home was Devan's mother.
Guys President Benson is literally at my house right now.... Idk what to do
— Devan Dannelly (@DADannelly11) February 17, 2015
C'mon now #EKU students! Colonel up.EKUPrez is doin work & diggin out so we can get back to campus tomorrow #GoBigEpic.twitter.com/0yd7GqV9P2
— Michael Benson (@EKUPrez) February 17, 2015
Apparently, Devan did have enough mobility to go run errands for his mom (which is why he wasn't home), but that's pretty nice, so we won't give him crap about it.
Mom just sent me this pic.twitter.com/RBeOECmdHw
— Devan Dannelly (@DADannelly11) February 17, 2015
Meanwhile, the prez and his buddy got to work.
A deal is a deal. Before & after at the driveway of @DADannelly11 Expect to see you in class tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/wUKnGXhBOQ
— Michael Benson (@EKUPrez) February 17, 2015
Said Benson, “[My friend] Chris and I ended up knocking the shoveling out in 45 minutes, and Devan and his sister brought home food for us. We ended up going inside and having dinner with the family. Of course as things turned out, we ended up not having class [the next day] anyway." What? No class? Was there a point to any of this? As it turned out, two cool things came of it.
Firstly, Devan was duly chastened and held up his end of the bargain.
I will literally never complain about going to class again.
— Devan Dannelly (@DADannelly11) February 17, 2015
No class this week, but I held up my end of the deal anyways! @EKUPrezpic.twitter.com/60aHD731ey
— Devan Dannelly (@DADannelly11) February 18, 2015
Neither sleet nor snow nor freezing temps will keep @DADannelly11 from coming to campus. Thx for the visit Devan #EKUpic.twitter.com/dNPJcwVFIK
— Michael Benson (@EKUPrez) February 19, 2015
Even better, Benson did something we almost forgot is part of a university presidents' job description: inspire students.
The Prez has inspired me... who wants their driveway shoveled???
— Devan Dannelly (@DADannelly11) February 17, 2015
Just following @EKUPrez's lead and shoveling snow for others. @keno_glennpic.twitter.com/LeKJ4Y88xN
— #FuturePilot (@Pilot_Mikel) February 18, 2015
@EKUPrez@DADannelly11 President Benson, well done sir! EKU students are fortunate to have such a good leader.
— Jennifer Ott (@jenni_ott) February 17, 2015
Huge shout out to @EKUFootball& @KDDeltaOmicron for pitching in, shoveling walks, and digging out cars. @EKUStoriespic.twitter.com/98iryMvfuL
— Michael Benson (@EKUPrez) February 18, 2015
EKU has to have the best president of all time. So caring and always in the colonel spirit! I'm proud to be a colonel! @EKUPrez
— taryn howell (@tkhowell1026) February 18, 2015
10/10 would shovel again.
Eastern Kentucky University has since returned to class, but hopefully in higher spirits. Said Benson, "It was fun, and I got to make a connection with a student that otherwise probably wouldn't have happened." Also, he politely failed to mention how cool he now looks.