13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Brand presented with honorary degree

Brand presented with honorary degree

Ray Cortopassi/Eyewitness News

Bloomington - NCAA President Myles Brand was honored Sunday during a ceremony at Indiana University.

The former IU president is fighting a personal battle with cancer, but that took a back seat Sunday to his public accomplishments. In the hallowed halls of the IU Auditorium, Brand received an honorary degree at the Honors Convocation of High Achieving Students.

"I am proud to confer on you with honor the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, with all attendant rights and privileges. Congratulations," said IU President Dr. Michael McRobbie.

The occasion marked Brand's first official visit back to the university since he stepped down as president.

"It makes me feel very good to be back," Brand said. "I'm humbled by the honorary degree I received today, but mostly, it's a wonderful university, world class institution with world class people."

For all his achievements and profile at IU, Brand has been off campus seven years now. Before today, very few students knew who he was or could appreciate his accomplishments.

But they do now.

"Honestly, I was just taken back by all he had done for the School of Informatics and IU in general," said senior Katie Gentry. "The grants he wrote, the money we received because of him, it was amazing."

Now engaged in a difficult battle with pancreatic cancer, Brand's presence here meant that much more.

"Something that probably made the university and the people at Indiana University feel as good as it made Myles Brand feel," said Mike Sample, IU Vice President of Public Affairs.

Although Brand was honored Sunday for his contributions to IU, many remember him for another reason. Brand was the president who fired basketball coach Bobby Knight in 2000. But Brand says that is a part of history.

"That issue is long and gone and everyone needs to move on," Brand said.