Spring commencement will return to Ohio stadium

COLUMBUS – Spring commencement 2002 at The Ohio State University will return to Ohio Stadium. During the last three years, the event was moved to the Oval to accommodate renovation of the stadium. Now that the renovations are complete, the spring ceremony, scheduled for June 14, will return to the “shoe.”

Students overwhelmingly favored moving the ceremonies back to the stadium when asked by university officials.

“The Oval has been a wonderful site for the ceremony during the last three years,” said Bill Hall, vice president for student affairs. “But given a choice, our students have said they prefer to return to the stadium for their ceremony.”

The move also renews a tradition at the university, according to Carol Ries, director of the Office of Commencement and Special Events.

“Until 1999, nearly every spring commencement ceremony since 1927 was held in the historic landmark," she said. “With the renovation, the stadium now offers great facilities for graduates and guests. Improved seating, better accessibility for visitors with disabilities, and new space for auxiliary activities are just some of the features that will help make commencement an enjoyable experience for everyone.”

Ohio State is unique among major universities in having one, universitywide commencement each quarter in which each graduate receives his or her own actual diploma. The summer, autumn and winter commencement ceremonies are held indoors. Only the spring ceremony is outdoors. It is the university’s largest ceremony, with approximately 5,500 graduates and 30,000 guests.

When the stadium renovation forced relocation of the ceremony in 2000, university officials considered several options. Since there is no indoor facility on campus or in the community large enough to accommodate 35,000 people, the choices included dividing the event into two or more smaller ceremonies, or holding one ceremony on the Oval. Ultimately, students preferred to maintain the traditions that make Ohio State commencements special.