Forty Years Later, OU Grads Receive Diplomas
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Updated: 11:57 PM Jun 12, 2010
Forty Years Later, OU Grads Receive Diplomas
For some Ohio University grads, getting to walk across the stage has been four decades in the making.
Posted: 7:14 PM Jun 12, 2010
Reporter: Andrew Colegrove
Email Address: Andrew.Colegrove@wsaz.com
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ATHENS, Ohio (WSAZ) -- Most college students get to walk across the stage at graduation after four or five years of hard work.

However, for some Ohio University grads, getting to walk across the stage has been four decades in the making.

Saturday the 1970 class of Ohio Bobcats had their moment in the spotlight.

Their original graduation was cancelled because of the national guard shootings at Kent State University in northeast ohio.

Graduates say this brings a sense of closure.

"I can remember when we had to pack up and leave," class of 1970 graduate Mike Musyt said. "I can remember moms and dads packing up students, and there were a lot of tears from the parents."

"I really enjoy the camaraderie, the president being one our own classmates, singing Ohio again, hearing stuff I haven't heard in 40 years," graduate Bill Day said. "It's tremendous, it's really a wonderful thing the university's done here."

Four students were killed and nine injured on the college campus of Kent State University. The students were protesting the Vietnam War when members of the National Guard opened fire.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Mike on Jun 14, 2010 at 12:19 PM

Following the Kent State shootings, there was campus unrest across the U.S., including Athens. On the weekend of the closure of school, there was rioting which included bricks thru Logan's bookstore, etc. Administrators closed the school, sent everyone home with instructions that we would later be told how our courses would be concluded. You could take the grade you had at the time of closure, take the rest of the course by correspondence, etc. It was a time in history I will never forget. I didn't take part in the graduation even though I was a member of that class. Fond memories (excluding the unrest) of a great time to be in college.
Posted by: why so long? on Jun 14, 2010 at 12:33 AM

Why in the world did it take 40 yrs?!?! Congrats to them but sad at the same time that it took sooooo long!
Posted by: cathy on Jun 13, 2010 at 07:32 PM

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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