North Columbus News

On Monday morning, thousands of new first-year students filled the Schottenstein Center during convocation to bond as new Buckeyes on the eve of a new academic year.

The annual celebration is an opportunity for new students to gather together, meet their peers, and hear from university leaders about the traditions and opportunities at The Ohio State University.

“You have an incredible journey ahead of you, full of new knowledge, new friendships, new traditions,” said President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr.

While not a new Buckeye, Carter was also celebrating his first convocation since becoming the university’s 17th president. He had two points that he wanted students to understand, the first being his commitment to establishing a safe campus environment and that safety remains his top priority.

“The second thing I want you to know is that this university aims to challenge you. We’ll challenge you academically, of course, but you'll also be challenged to engage with new ideas and new points of view, to think critically and sometimes disagree, respectfully,” he said. “So as we share our views, it’s important to do so with civility and respect – a skill that will serve you well on all of our campuses, as you graduate, and eventually head out into the world.”

Melissa Shivers, senior vice president for the Office of Student Life, said one of the best ways to build connections with new classmates is to become involved on campus. The university has more than 1,400 student organizations that range from club sports and faith-based communities to professional organizations.

“Data shows that students who are involved on campus tend to succeed at the university and beyond at higher rates,” Shivers said. “Students who are involved in co-curricular activities are significantly more likely to have relationships with other Ohio State students and faculty, to feel like they are a part of the Ohio State community, [and] to report that they have developed as a leader during their time at Ohio State compared to peers who were not engaged.”

Students who attended commencement were also offered a glimpse of their future. Each student received an envelope with a Block O pin and a scarlet graduation tassel. The pin serves as a symbol of the new bond between the first-year students and the tassel symbolizes the goal of graduation. Both items were gifts from the university Alumni Association.

“From the moment you stepped onto one of our wonderful campuses, you became a part of that incredible Ohio State family with more than 600,000 alumni around the globe ready to support and celebrate you,” said Alumni Association President and CEO Molly Ranz Calhoun. “As you begin this chapter of your Ohio State story[,] you will quickly discover what it means to be a Buckeye for life.”