Thursday, October 22, 2009

Stony Brook's new president, Samuel L. Stanley, took a break from all the bureaucratic business of inauguration week today to play some pickup basketball with students and faculty in the Pritchard Gymnasium. Stanley flashed some skills, sinking three shots from behind the arc and serving up a nice alley-oop pass to a teammate.

"I've always loved basketball," Stanley said. "I played a ton in college intramurals, that sort of thing. Then during my time in Washington in St. Louis I had a group of guys and we'd play a few times a week."

Stanley said the pickup games were a great way to get some exercise and to break up his day with something fun.

The president had two goals he hoped to accomplish in holding the pickup games. The first goal was to do something as inclusive as possible to immerse himself in campus life.

"I think it's great what President Stanley did today," said Emily Hardy, an assistant coach for the women’s basketball team. "He's such a busy guy, and he still took the time out to build a relationship with the students and athletic department. It's just really cool of him."

His second goal was doing something inexpensive.

"With the economic downturn we didn't want to spend too much money, and I think I succeeded in that," Stanley said. “I mean, outside of buying a few Gatorades, this was pretty inexpensive, and how much do they cost?"

*Well, Mr. President- at the Student Union a Gatorade costs $2.10. We heard you worked up quite a sweat at the games and you did say you had a few, so we will assume you drank three. Keeping it under seven dollars seems reasonable enough. And you're welcome. Regards, The Stony Brook Independent.