Young alumni from the last decade would probably see someone dressed in a suit in the brickyard and assume they were going to an interview or maybe giving a class presentation.  What if the guy in the suit was the Chancellor?  Students who just started classes are yawning while students from past decades have mixed reactions.  The truth is that the office of the Chancellor has been one that few students outside of the normal student government positions have interacted with.  As many institutions have, NC State has seen both good and bad chancellors.  Chancellor Oblinger was awful and barely deserves to be brought back up, but he serves as a great point-of-reference for exactly how great Chancellor Woodson is.

Last Friday, Chancellor Woodson stepped into a chair and participated in a blood drive that NC State was leading.  The goal was 1250 pints of blood in support of NC State’s 125 year anniversary.  While the drive fell just short at 1146 pints, it did give Chancellor Woodson a great opportunity to show that he’s not just a shadowy figure that holds-up in his office; he’s a real person… filled with real NC State-red blood.

Chancellor Woodson did more than just give blood.  He went out on Hillsborough Street for the new “Packapalooza” celebration.

Wolf said Carolina Liar would love to revisit N.C. State and had a wonderful time playing for the students, but they weren’t the only ones who made it to the stage. Chancellor Randy Woodson unexpectedly got up and joined them, playing guitar for one of the band’s songs. (link)

Woodson has shown that he legitimately loves NC State and the student body.  He doesn’t just want to administer NC State; he wants to lead it.  As NC State’s Chancellor, he has done a lot to address our athletic and academic future and has made plans for NC State as it moves forward in a new world with new administrative and fiscal challenges.  If you’re an alumni of NC State, take comfort in knowing who is leading the flock.  If you’re a current student, thank your lucky stars that you are there to experience what you have right now.