By 5:00 p.m. Monday, Seth Jones had received approximately 150 emails, Facebook messages and phone calls responding to five words he sent out in a mass email earlier.

Jones, who is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Software Engineering and Information Technology, replied to all recipients of the mass email sent by President Gary Russi on Sunday morning announcing the university as host for a rally featuring Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan.

His response consisted of a brief opinion: “What a waste of time.”

“I think very highly of Oakland University. This email (from Russi) took me by surprise,” Jones said. When responding, he said there was no particular goal.

Jones said he would not have necessarily felt differently if the rally featured a Democratic candidate.

“Regardless of the party being hosted, my support for any political events hosted on campus would be dependent on the candidate,” he said.

Jones, who has not received a response from Russi, questions Paul Ryan’s stance on education and does not support his candidacy.

“Paul Ryan has a very strong stance on the future of education in America,” he said. “It is unfortunate that the GOP has decided to go with a platform this election that I feel does not move America into the future.”

Ted Montgomery, director of media relations, said that it is impossible to make everyone on campus pleased with any one speaker.

“No matter who comes to Oakland University for an event or a speaking arrangement, someone will lodge an objection to having that person on campus,” he said.

According to Montgomery, a university environment should welcome representation of a variety of perspectives.

“The university is a place where vigorous discussion takes place, were ideas are exchanged in an environment that is free of judgment, discrimination and intolerance,” Montgomery said. “One of the roles as a university is to provide such an environment for our students, so a free exchange of ideas may lead to better understanding of issues and an enhanced quality educational experience.”

Jones said while most of the responses he has received have been supportive, some of them suggested his peers interpreted the response as negative commentary on the university.

“I was not trying to speak negatively about OU,” he said. “Those five words were to simply express my disappointment of their decision to host such an event.”

He noted that OU has hosted three major Republican events in the past two election cycles, including a Town Hall Meeting organized by the John McCain presidential campaign committee in 2008, the GOP Debate in November 2011 and Tuesday’s rally.

Jones said he was not aware of any recent political events promoting the Democratic Party, candidates or nominees.

“I feel that OU is a public, educational institute and should stay neutral on the issue. In order to effectively operate on this level, OU would need to give every side the same ‘air time’ or none at all,” he said.

Montgomery said the university, as a public institution, does not endorse particular political parties or their candidates.

“We do not actively cultivate appearance on campus by politicians; they contact us to see if we have the facilities and human resources to manage such an event successfully,” he said. “Over the years, we have played host to many events that featured Democratic candidates for various levels of office.”