Eira TanseyApparently the Ohio State president is on a bitcoin mining company board and invited an OSU alumna who hawked bitcoin to give the commencement speech. You can’t make this shit up!
“After the singalong, Mr Pan began talking about investment, which eventually led to him recommending Bitcoin as a "very misunderstood asset class," earning audible boos and laughs from the crowd” https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ohio-state-graduation-commencement-speaker-b2542310.html
I’ve never cared for the way Ohio State completely dominates Ohio higher education (as an alumna and former employee of University of Cincinnati) so anything that makes Ohio State look like total dorks is catnip to me
Here’s another story, would love to see if their Sunshine open records request goes through. “Commencement ceremony rehearsals were equally challenging for Mr. Pan. The university asked Pan to remove what can only be described as “a shirtless dance number.” Pan declined.” https://www.rooster.info/p/ohio-state-chris-pan?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Hell yeah baby we got an interview with the OSU Commencement Speaker. So many choice lines my favorite is this: "I’m a McKinsey guy, so in two weeks I can quickly get up to speed on an industry." lmao lmao lmao lmao lmaoooooo https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/ohio-state-graduation-speaker-chris-pan-on-his-viral-speech.html
"I'm a McKinsey Guy" God willing I will never be subjected to online dating ever again, but if I am this would be the biggest red flag ever
Frank Skornia@TeamMidwest I can't imagine spending 4-5 years of my life, and thousands and thousands of dollars, for this to be the capstone of the university experience
@TeamMidwest WAIT! Is the same commencement where someone fell from the top of the stadium, and they continued the whole program and ceremony without acknowledging it?
Dr Suzanne she/her@TeamMidwest When I think of Ohio higher ed, I think of all the amazing little liberal arts schools. I don’t think of OSU at all. 😀
Keen Grasp@TeamMidwest (That Guy Applying Clown Makeup Meme, except instead it's a guy dressing up in the OSU "Bucky" Buckeye mascot costume)
Melissa Hubbard@TeamMidwest Thank you for sharing a story about higher education dysfunction that is hilarious and involves zero police violence. I needed that.
Tobu@TeamMidwest The follow-up article where the Rooster looks at the university president picking that guy over the speaker selection committee shortlist doesn't pull its punches: https://www.rooster.info/p/ohio-states-drug-fueled-bitcoin-shame
> While it’s indeed comical that the crowd booed Pan at the mere mention of Bitcoin, it’s less funny when you consider that Carter, who personally tapped Pan as speaker, sits on the Board of Directors for Terawulf, a Bitcoin mining company and is invested in the cryptocurrency himself.
> Carter has a vested interest in propagating Bitcoin, which, again, is the fake internet currency preferred by drug dealers, money launderers, pedophiles, and a host of other cybercriminals. Using the university’s bully pulpit to deliver that message is nasty work, even if the crowd was filled with people sensible enough to boo the idea of investing their retirement fund into unbacked securities.
> The message, with the university’s seal emblazoned in the background, traveled well within the Bitcoin community. This single tweet, which calls Pan a “fucking legend” while doubling the crowd size without mentioning it booed his ass, has nearly half a million views on Twitter alone
[…]
> Carter owes the Ohio State community an explanation of his thought process, considering this speech has garnered national attention—The New York Post published an article late last night—as the most tragic event at a ceremony in which a troubled parent died by suicide by leaping from the top of Ohio Stadium.
Lyle Solla-Yates@TeamMidwest I am impressed that this was the censored and edited version. Truly a moment for our times.