When Chancellor/President Arthur Smith began talking about openness towards students, frankly, we thought it was probably a lot of hot air.
To past presidents and chancellors, being open with students meant attending banquets and receptions with a handshake here and there.
But if students wanted to actually talk to ex-President Glenn Goerke or ex-Chancellor Bill Hobby, they would have to add their names to an exclusive waiting list. Most of the time, Cougar reporters (who are UH students) were forced to collect their questions en masse for a once-a-semester meeting with the untouchables, because neither Goerke nor Hobby answered their phones - secretaries did - and neither returned phone calls.
Maybe they had busy schedules, although they did have time to meet with faculty, other administrators and the beloved ex-Students' Association President John Moore.
This is why most of the Cougar staff were shocked (the kind of shocked where your hair stands straight up and your fingertips tingle) when Smith actually gave a reporter his home number and said, "I should be home for the next hour" to answer any questions.
Since a college newspaper is a central communication source for most students, Smith has definitely opened doors that have always been shut in students' faces - the doors to the offices of the president and chancellor.
Taking a tour of the campus and talking to students and staff (not just faculty and administrators) about UH was also a good start.
But then again, Smith has plenty of time to change his phone number and replace the locks on his door.