Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) shared a video with a cameo from the viral “Prof Potato” star to promote her proposal of free two years of community college.
Behind the character of Prof Potato is assistant accounting professor Ryan Ball at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. During the coronavirus pandemic, Ball began teaching his online classes with a potato filter to liven up virtual learning. Clips from his lectures subsequently spread on social media platforms, which made his potato persona earn popularity outside of the university.
“Hi Professor Potato, I wanted to share some Yukon Gold news with you, my best spud,” Whitmer says in the video. “We both agree that every Michigander deserves an opportunity to go to college without frying their bank account.”
The video was met with online responses claiming it induced users to “cringe” at the awkwardness of the promotional clip.
“Thanks I hate it,” one user wrote.
“When the edible hits,” another user described the video, akin to a hallucinogenic experience.
“Fire the intern that posted this,” another user suggested.
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According to Whitmer, the taxpayer-funded proposal would save Michiganders about $4,000 while receiving their associate degrees. It also includes free preschool for all 4-year-olds.
Last summer, the state’s legislature passed its biggest budget ever at $82 billion for fiscal 2024.
