Well, OHIO did grant a few Ph.D.s in the late 19th century and then not another one until the 1950s. That first 20th Century one was in chemistry. I belive one of my father's best friends, Larry Eblin, was the dissertation adviser. So, once again, Akron can't get its facts straight. Anyone surprised?

Edit: OK, I checked with Larry Eblin's son, Jim, and he is pretty sure that the Ph.D. in question in chemistry was granted in 1957. He also remembers that it was in organic chemistry. It turns out that his father was not the director of the dissertation but was the chairman of the department at the time. Jim believes the dissertation director (preceptor in his words) was one Robert Ingham. Jim further remembers that the candidate's surname was Denham and that Dr. Denham later taught at either Hiram or Marietta College.

I see your point but there are tons of schools with Virginia in their names and we all know Virginia Tech. Ditto for Georgia Tech, so I can see Akron's line of thinking too. Ohio and Ohio State are taken. The next most "recognizable" name would be Ohio Tech.

Airplane landing, with a caption 'AKRON, OHIO'.


[Firestone Boardroom, Akron]

A boardroom very much like that of the Yankees, but with a Firestone sign on
the wall. Several people sit around the table, including Reilly, and George,
who is filling his face from a large dish of shrimp.

REILLY: So, George. You're proposing a snow tire day at Yankee Stadium?

GEORGE: (through a mouthful) Long as they don't throw 'em on the field.
(laughs) Huhu. (indicating dish) Help yourself to some shrimp, I brought
enough for everybody.

MCADAM: (doubtful) I have to say this, this proposal doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

GEORGE: Well, you never know. (picks up more shrimp) Let's see how many I can fit in my mouth.

George begins picking up shrimp one by one and stuffing them into his mouth.

REILLY: (leaning forward) You know, George...

George looks up, expectantly.

REILLY: The ocean called. They're running outta shrimp.

Everyone around the table laughs. Except for George, who looks triumphant. He swallows, and uses a napkin to clean his fingers.

GEORGE: (standing) Oh yeah, Reilly? (smugly) Well, the jerk store called.
They're running outta you

If I had to guess, I would say that AU is going to attempt to do two things: make themselves the dominant partner in any merger with Kent and then position themselves to be a Northeast Ohio equivalent of UC. This would not prove good for Ohio. That being said, the President and board up there seem to be utterly corrupt and incompetent, and I just don't see them pulling off a tenth of what they seemingly have in mind.

Let me be the first to call Scott Scarborough the Kirby Hocutt of College Presidents.

Let it burn.