Sonoma State interim President Mike Lee sat down on Tuesday, Jan. 31 to spill the tea and answer from students. The students asked questions that ranged from lighthearted and fun to more serious questions that some students wanted answers to. Spill The Tea with President Lee was hosted by Associated Student Productions, ASP. Aside from possible answers to any pressing questions one might have, Seawolves were also encouraged to show up to the event for free bubble tea. The first 100 people to show up were able to get their hands on the treat while waiting for the event to begin. Although there seemed to be plenty to go around at the start of the questions and answer session.

Many of the questions asked were fun and a way of getting to know President Lee better. Some of which were, “what is a day in the life like for President Lee” and “what are some of your favorite foods?” Lee gave his responses which drew some laughs from the crowd as well as head nods of approval. After the pre-submitted questions were answered the students in attendance were allowed to ask questions.

Initially, students were able to submit questions via QR code but when the projector stopped working the host had to switch back to the old-school method of picking people who had their hands raised. This is when hard-hitting questions about mold in the dorms, increasing diversity, and enrollment were brought up.

The president gave his responses to the questions which included emphasizing student feedback on any problems concerning the dorms, making SSU a fun and safe campus for people of all backgrounds, and making it easier for junior college students to enroll at SSU.

When asked about whether or not a question and answer session similar to Spill the Tea with President Lee would be helpful in the future 4th-Year communications student Madison Hernandez said, “It’s a good way of keeping people informed and is kind of like a state of the union address.”Hernandez felt that the event was an overall positive experience in which a student who may have any problems can be heard and get an answer from those who may have the power to help.

The question-and-answer format of the event let students get a better understanding of who the president was and his priorities on campus. Parker Oria, a first-year business major who attended Spill the Tea with President Lee at the last second said, “I think he answered all the questions appropriately, he seemed respectful, kind, and genuine.”

A lot of other students seemed to attend the event spontaneously like Oria, Aiden Spencer, a first-year pre-nursing student, didn’t make plans on attending the event. Even though he didn’t have any questions for the president Spencer said “All I knew is there was Lee and tea, but I still found it very informative.”

After Spill the Tea was over President Lee talked to some of the students who stuck around he also thanked everyone for taking the time to come out.