I have thought this for 50 years since graduating. It will always be magic, like Disney for kids. I talk to other grads who seem wistful when they recollect. Your article explains so much. Many nights I dream I'm still there. There was magic in the air. Possibility. I told an old girlfriend I'd give up the rest of my life to relive one quarter we spent there together. Thanks for the article
Enjoyed your OU article. In the late 50's and early 60's you only had to graduate in the top 90% of your high school class to be admitted to OU. At Freshman orientation you were asked to look to the person on your left and right and told that only one of you would graduate. It gave us mediocre high school students a chance to excel in later life. However, I only remember 4 intown bars which were always crowded as you could drink 3.2 beer at 18. UCLA law school was like living on a different planet from OU. Al Templeman
Great articulation of so many ideas and feelings. Add a dash of the great outdoors, and it's a perfect summary of the experience. Fortunately with a freshman on campus and friends who remained, my visits are frequent. Bonus*** today I was gifted a panoramic photo of the green from '93 from a former trustee, so now it's all just a glance away!
Thanks Joe, for putting into words what we all feel. After graduation (1983), I left the Convo, went to my house on Mill Street, packed my car and sobbed as I drove out of town. Athens felt like Narnia - a magical place where young people, ideas, music and beer collide in a gorgeous setting. Every few years, I try to visit with college friends. I always smile when I drive into town. It still feels like home.
You hooked me at "Quad-soaked hands," I stayed for "this hippie Appalachian town" and then just kept reading.
This is amazing and captures so much about Athens and OU. When I was looking at schools way back when, I didn't really want to go to OU because so many people from my school were going there. Then we all took a drive down junior year of HS, I stepped onto the bricks...and I knew I had found my place. When my daughter, who is now a sophomore at Kent State, visited Kent for the first time she said, "I don't know, mom. This just seems right...I kind of have this tingly feeling where I know this is the right place. Does that make sense?" Oh yes, my dear, that totally makes sense! That's exactly how I feel each and every time I visit Athens.
I was able to return in 2017 to spend five days there guest lecturing, and in between one of the 12 classes I taught that week I just strolled around, sat on College Green with lunch from the Burrito Buggy (not *quite* the same, but nonetheless I enjoyed it), sat in coffee shops and my friends at Casa, walked into The Crystal and felt really old, went up and down the hills and along the Hocking, walked into Scripps to see my old stomping ground, and had an amazing and surreal time.
I agree with everything you said except for one small detail, and maybe you had "a person" too, but didn't mention it. I wouldn't be where I am now without Professor Cassandra Reese. She took me under her wing my first semester in the journalism program and guided me, taught me, listened to me, and helped me. We are still in touch 28 years post-graduation.
I'm so proud to be an OU grad, but more importantly, those four years in Athens and the friendships made shaped who I am today.
Love this, Cathy. I had a few "persons" who I remain in touch with today. I tried to cover that in the section about education. I was also trying to keep this post from sprawling into a book : )
Class of 1982 here! We still had the Frontier Room when it was a bar, and what a bar it was, with that outdoor patio. It was impossible to walk by on a sunny spring day and not be hailed in for a beer by whatever friends were already perched on the brick wall. I was grateful to find several circles of friends that overlapped and remain tight to this day. We were low-maintenance scholars who put an equal premium on academics and extra-curricular fun of all kinds. Good times indeed.
I was in Athens today. I didn't want to leave. I graduated in 1983- although I saw lots of changes, so much is always and forever just the way I left it nearly 40 years ago.
As a ‘96 grad myself, you’ve nailed it, Joe. The walkability factor, and all of the happy things that go with it is something I’ve found myself chasing since my days on those bricks. After a suburban swerve in my 30s, I’ve found a walkable community in my new hometown of Atlanta that has a bit of that same Athens magic. No doubt my time at OU (you’re correct - it’s still OU and not Ohio) instilled that desire in me. Great piece of writing.
Joe, our class was the first on campus after Kent State riots. Those were tumoltuous times during Vietnam, Nixon, & recession. Enrollment at OU in my frost yr. was 19k+. When I graduated in ‘74 it was down to 10.7k. You talk about change?!? Despite all of these critical factors OU in the Appalachia kept us normal. It was everything you said!!! Thank you!
Nice job. Pretty spot-on. One other thing is that unlike the schools in major cities the whole area is geared toward the school and the students. You don't have urban distractions. There were no chain stores, chain restaurants, or chain entertainment venues. That led to trying different food, taking advantage of Internation festivals and all all festivals. Exposuremto cultural experiences with local theater, art and music scene. What other campus are you immersed in history surrounded by statepark and national forests? If I could have made a living there, I would have never left. Still love visiting.
When I was a tour guide, I used to call OU the “Goldilocks” school. It was not too big where you felt like a number, but not too small where it felt like high school all over again. It was not too close where mom and dad could just show up and not too far that you couldn’t find a ride home. When I was there, I believe 40 percent of OU student population was from the Northeast Ohio area, so one could always find a way home. That’s my theory.
Current OU student home after my first semester and already missing Athens, everything you said is completely true.
I have thought this for 50 years since graduating. It will always be magic, like Disney for kids. I talk to other grads who seem wistful when they recollect. Your article explains so much. Many nights I dream I'm still there. There was magic in the air. Possibility. I told an old girlfriend I'd give up the rest of my life to relive one quarter we spent there together. Thanks for the article
Thanks for this comment. I still have dreams I'm there, too. I think there's deep meaning in that.
Enjoyed your OU article. In the late 50's and early 60's you only had to graduate in the top 90% of your high school class to be admitted to OU. At Freshman orientation you were asked to look to the person on your left and right and told that only one of you would graduate. It gave us mediocre high school students a chance to excel in later life. However, I only remember 4 intown bars which were always crowded as you could drink 3.2 beer at 18. UCLA law school was like living on a different planet from OU. Al Templeman
Great articulation of so many ideas and feelings. Add a dash of the great outdoors, and it's a perfect summary of the experience. Fortunately with a freshman on campus and friends who remained, my visits are frequent. Bonus*** today I was gifted a panoramic photo of the green from '93 from a former trustee, so now it's all just a glance away!
Congrats on your child fulfilling their destiny.
Who was the most famous OU Bob Cat mascot and why?
We recently had an infamous one. What's your answer, Bill?
Thanks Joe, for putting into words what we all feel. After graduation (1983), I left the Convo, went to my house on Mill Street, packed my car and sobbed as I drove out of town. Athens felt like Narnia - a magical place where young people, ideas, music and beer collide in a gorgeous setting. Every few years, I try to visit with college friends. I always smile when I drive into town. It still feels like home.
I, uh, may or may not have cried when I drove out of town, too.
You hooked me at "Quad-soaked hands," I stayed for "this hippie Appalachian town" and then just kept reading.
This is amazing and captures so much about Athens and OU. When I was looking at schools way back when, I didn't really want to go to OU because so many people from my school were going there. Then we all took a drive down junior year of HS, I stepped onto the bricks...and I knew I had found my place. When my daughter, who is now a sophomore at Kent State, visited Kent for the first time she said, "I don't know, mom. This just seems right...I kind of have this tingly feeling where I know this is the right place. Does that make sense?" Oh yes, my dear, that totally makes sense! That's exactly how I feel each and every time I visit Athens.
I was able to return in 2017 to spend five days there guest lecturing, and in between one of the 12 classes I taught that week I just strolled around, sat on College Green with lunch from the Burrito Buggy (not *quite* the same, but nonetheless I enjoyed it), sat in coffee shops and my friends at Casa, walked into The Crystal and felt really old, went up and down the hills and along the Hocking, walked into Scripps to see my old stomping ground, and had an amazing and surreal time.
I agree with everything you said except for one small detail, and maybe you had "a person" too, but didn't mention it. I wouldn't be where I am now without Professor Cassandra Reese. She took me under her wing my first semester in the journalism program and guided me, taught me, listened to me, and helped me. We are still in touch 28 years post-graduation.
I'm so proud to be an OU grad, but more importantly, those four years in Athens and the friendships made shaped who I am today.
I loved Cassandra Reese, too. And Lambert, Izard, Culbertson and Sloan.
Had Lambert and was there for Izard. Good people.
Breaks my heart that both of these men are gone -- plus Stempel, Helitzer and Sloan.
Took Helitzer's comedy class. Great memories of that one.
Had Stempel for Law. Man.
Maggie - the best!
Love this, Cathy. I had a few "persons" who I remain in touch with today. I tried to cover that in the section about education. I was also trying to keep this post from sprawling into a book : )
Class of 1982 here! We still had the Frontier Room when it was a bar, and what a bar it was, with that outdoor patio. It was impossible to walk by on a sunny spring day and not be hailed in for a beer by whatever friends were already perched on the brick wall. I was grateful to find several circles of friends that overlapped and remain tight to this day. We were low-maintenance scholars who put an equal premium on academics and extra-curricular fun of all kinds. Good times indeed.
Wish I could have been there for that!
I was in Athens today. I didn't want to leave. I graduated in 1983- although I saw lots of changes, so much is always and forever just the way I left it nearly 40 years ago.
I'm glad it still feels that way, Amy.
As a ‘96 grad myself, you’ve nailed it, Joe. The walkability factor, and all of the happy things that go with it is something I’ve found myself chasing since my days on those bricks. After a suburban swerve in my 30s, I’ve found a walkable community in my new hometown of Atlanta that has a bit of that same Athens magic. No doubt my time at OU (you’re correct - it’s still OU and not Ohio) instilled that desire in me. Great piece of writing.
Good for you, Jon. It's something we talk about doing at some point.
EXACTLY!! Perfectly said!!💚💚
Thanks, Jody.
This article is so magnificently spot on that my green-and-white heart hurts. 💚💚💚 BSJ ‘94
Thank you, Maggie.
Joe, our class was the first on campus after Kent State riots. Those were tumoltuous times during Vietnam, Nixon, & recession. Enrollment at OU in my frost yr. was 19k+. When I graduated in ‘74 it was down to 10.7k. You talk about change?!? Despite all of these critical factors OU in the Appalachia kept us normal. It was everything you said!!! Thank you!
What a time to be on campus. Wow.
I love this article so much. It’s hard to describe what makes OU and Athens so special. You nailed it.
Thank you, Amy.
Nice job. Pretty spot-on. One other thing is that unlike the schools in major cities the whole area is geared toward the school and the students. You don't have urban distractions. There were no chain stores, chain restaurants, or chain entertainment venues. That led to trying different food, taking advantage of Internation festivals and all all festivals. Exposuremto cultural experiences with local theater, art and music scene. What other campus are you immersed in history surrounded by statepark and national forests? If I could have made a living there, I would have never left. Still love visiting.
Yes -- you get to try a lot of different things out at OU. So true.
When I was a tour guide, I used to call OU the “Goldilocks” school. It was not too big where you felt like a number, but not too small where it felt like high school all over again. It was not too close where mom and dad could just show up and not too far that you couldn’t find a ride home. When I was there, I believe 40 percent of OU student population was from the Northeast Ohio area, so one could always find a way home. That’s my theory.
Agree with this 💯 !!! NE Ohio here too. Joe, tell Jen I said hello! Loved your article 💚
Will do. Thanks, Alice.
That's a great description.
It was “just right.”