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 : )
Agree with everything you said, Joe, but I would also add that there's a Spiritual mysticism about Athens/OU. You are correct, in that there are "the right kind of kids" at OU, and I think what keeps the "right kids" and rejects the wrong ones (who leave after a quarter) is the Spirit of Athens. The right ones are accepted by the Spirit, it infuses itself into the soul of the lucky ones and for them OU becomes hOUme.
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.
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.
Great article Joe! I’ll give a little background as to why I fell in love with Athens with my first visit. Having grown up in the flat corner (rural Henry County) of the state, I knew that college was going to be my “first best” chance to get away from home. Being a 1/2 hour from BG, (my first job - pollinating seed corn, was just east of campus) I was familiar with it, and I had gone to a few sporting events at UToledo over the years as well. I had requested some info on OU more on a whim than anything (my neighbor through the mile had gone to a basketball camp down there and we both signed up at a college day). My guidance counselor had recommended that I participate in the American History Contest that OU put on - and I ended up being a finalist and got invited to Athens. When I saw campus the first time, it was simply beautiful! I knew right then and there that this was to be my place! I also liked the town, it was small enough to be comfortable, - not like Columbus, and there was less separation between town and campus - unlike BG.
Even though I went down there by myself (I’m the first person from my HS to graduate from OU, and there’s been less than a dozen after me) I’m happy how it went. Doing so forced me to get out of my shell and enabled me to meet some truly talented people from all over the world!
love with it between my junior and senior year of high school when I attended a high school newspaper publication workshop. It also was not local calling distance from my parents. I knew there would be no surprise visits.
I didn’t go to Ohio (OU) but visiting the Athens campus and experiencing student life through my husband and daughter makes me wish I had. Loved this piece, well done.
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!
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.
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 : )
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!
Agree with everything you said, Joe, but I would also add that there's a Spiritual mysticism about Athens/OU. You are correct, in that there are "the right kind of kids" at OU, and I think what keeps the "right kids" and rejects the wrong ones (who leave after a quarter) is the Spirit of Athens. The right ones are accepted by the Spirit, it infuses itself into the soul of the lucky ones and for them OU becomes hOUme.
There is magic in them thar hills.
Thanks, Derek. It's a weird little place. I put nothing past it.
I think the spiritual mysticism rested between the five bagel shops forming a pentagon.
You win best comment on this thread, Maggie.
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.
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!
Great article Joe! I’ll give a little background as to why I fell in love with Athens with my first visit. Having grown up in the flat corner (rural Henry County) of the state, I knew that college was going to be my “first best” chance to get away from home. Being a 1/2 hour from BG, (my first job - pollinating seed corn, was just east of campus) I was familiar with it, and I had gone to a few sporting events at UToledo over the years as well. I had requested some info on OU more on a whim than anything (my neighbor through the mile had gone to a basketball camp down there and we both signed up at a college day). My guidance counselor had recommended that I participate in the American History Contest that OU put on - and I ended up being a finalist and got invited to Athens. When I saw campus the first time, it was simply beautiful! I knew right then and there that this was to be my place! I also liked the town, it was small enough to be comfortable, - not like Columbus, and there was less separation between town and campus - unlike BG.
Even though I went down there by myself (I’m the first person from my HS to graduate from OU, and there’s been less than a dozen after me) I’m happy how it went. Doing so forced me to get out of my shell and enabled me to meet some truly talented people from all over the world!
This is a great story. Thanks for sharing, Michael.
I went to OU from Wood County. I fell in
love with it between my junior and senior year of high school when I attended a high school newspaper publication workshop. It also was not local calling distance from my parents. I knew there would be no surprise visits.
A key factor for many students!
Thanks Joe! It is a state of mind that keeps revisiting us all through life.
Agreed.
As I like to say, it is "Holy Ground"
Indeed.
I didn’t go to Ohio (OU) but visiting the Athens campus and experiencing student life through my husband and daughter makes me wish I had. Loved this piece, well done.
You are hereby an honorary Bobcat for life!
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?
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.