And the winner is...
Congratulations to co-winners Stacy (Fisher) MacGregor, BBA ā90, Dublin, Ohio, and her son, Lachland, who is 9 years old and in the fourth grade. The two teamed up for the squirrel search and were ātotally stokedā when their names were selected in the random drawing of correct submissions.
āWe loved reading the book and all of the other black squirrel goodies,ā says Stacy MacGregor, pictured at right with Lachland and squirrel-themed swag from McKay Bricker Framing & Black Squirrel Gifts in downtown Ńż¼§Ö±²„. The book pictured, And Now You Know Too! The story of how the black squirrel came to Ńż¼§Ö±²„, is by Kathy Frazier, BA ā70, MA ā75, EdS ā81, and Deborah Walker, MA ā78.
The three black squirrels hidden in the fall/winter 2019-20 issue are found on page 7 (on the stand in the glass blowing photo), page 25 (in the dark curly hair near the headset band on Oden Oraelosiās head) and page 34 (in the top right photo, between the curb and the 1969 Oldsmobile).
Thanks to all who entered!
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Reflecting on May 4, 1970
President Diaconās comments on the 50th anniversary of May 4, 1970 are reflective and somber [fall/winter 2019-20, āA Dialogue with President Diacon,ā page 12]. As a 1969 graduate of the Ńż¼§Ö±²„ State School of Business [now the College of Business Administration], I remember well hearing for the first time of the May 4th shootings. As a young US Naval Ensign, I was aboard my ship undergoing training at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, naval station, preparing to deploy overseas. The news came via newspapers and magazines; there were no computers, no cell phones, thus no social media.
There had been a few sit-ins, by nonstudents, and a few demonstrations by the Ńż¼§Ö±²„ Committee to End the War in Vietnam, but nothing of great magnitude, as very few of the [almost] 22,000 students participated. Ńż¼§Ö±²„ State had a fairly conservative student population by todayās standards, with many of the students coming from the suburbs of Ohio; they simply wanted a solid education to prepare themselves for their life ahead.
My heart was saddened; such a quiet and wonderful institution deserved better, much better.
John Mensch, BBA ā69
President, 1st Security Insurance
Bloomfield, Ind.
Dink Date Debate
Over the weekend, I was with a group of KSU alumni, and we used the KSU trivia quiz [fall/winter 2019-20, āSo You Think You Know Ńż¼§Ö±²„ State?ā page 15] as a group game. Question 6, about the dinks, is why Iām writing. The answer says the last incoming freshman class to receive dinks was in 1968. I was in the 1969 cohort, and we most definitely received dinks. In fact, I still have mine!
I was not able to attend a summer orientation session, so my orientation took place in the days just before students moved in for fall term. We must have been told the ārules,ā i.e., if an upperclassman caught you without your dink on, that upperclassman could make you do something, most likely humiliating, like scrub the metal seal [of the university] in the pavers at the front campus gate, on your knees, with a toothbrush.
The dink āthreatā caused me to take several hours to walk all over campus, map in hand, to learn my way around. I remember the sandals I was wearing, and I remember the blisters I had! My thinking was that if I knew my way around, I would be less likely to be identified as a freshman. Which means, of course, that I refused to actually wear the dink! (Iāve always been a bit of a rebel.)
Jude Rule, BA ā73, MEd ā01, EdS ā03
Ńż¼§Ö±²„, Ohio
I enjoy reading Ńż¼§Ö±²„ Sate Magazine and, as a graphic design major, I think it has great design and content. But, your current fall/winter issue included a quiz answer that said the last year the freshman dink beanie was issued was 1968. I was āluckyā to still get mine in 1969 and still have it! [See photo]
Go Flashes!
Mike Cothren, BFA ā73
Westerville, Ohio
We believe the correct answer is not 1968. My freshman roommate and I were housed in Manchester Hall, which was a menās freshman dorm in 1970. On a Friday in September, freshmen were encouraged to attend a rally between Clark and Allyn. At that rally, we were all presented with our freshman dinks and told of the traditions. That is not to say we honored the tradition of wearing them around campus, but my freshman roommate from 1970 still has his and mine is still in my memory. So, we are either two years older than we think or your records are in error.
Chris Ewald, BArch ā75
Phoenix, Ariz.
Editorās Note: According to the quiz, the ācorrectā answer to question 6 (āWhat year marked the first time a freshman class was not issued dinks?) was D: 1969, and the answer stated, āThe dinks tradition ended in 1968.ā At least, thatās what we thought! That year appears in the caption of a photo on Ńż¼§Ö±²„ Stateās Digital Archives, titled , which includes this description: āAccording to A Book of Memories, āSmall blue-and-gold skullcaps called ādinksā were part of Ńż¼§Ö±²„ Stateās tradition of freshman hazing until 1968.āā
We reached out to Special Collections and Archives staff, who did more digging. Page 20 of A History of Ńż¼§Ö±²„ State University: Nearing a Century of Ńż¼§Ö±²„ Pride by William H. Hildebrand, Professor Emeritus of English, states, āAnother tradition ended, in 1967, when freshman wore dinks for the last time.ā
An article, āMany Old Ńż¼§Ö±²„ State Traditions Now Defunct,ā in The Daily Ńż¼§Ö±²„ Stater, May 9, 1969, states, āIncluded with Freshman Week is the wearing of the Freshman Dink. Wearers of these ācapsā must dink for all upperclassmen. But this idea seems to be falling by the wayside. It was originally intended to last until the Golden Flashes won their first game, but Freshmen only wear the dinks for one week now.ā
āIt does seem that many traditions slowly peter out and thus the end is up for debate,ā says Katie Clements, adjunct public services librarian at Special Collections and Archives.
Thanks to alumni firsthand accounts, though, a clarification has been added to the digital archives photo description, as follows: āHowever, alumni report of the tradition continuing in 1969 and in 1970 (without enforcement of dink āprotocolsā).ā
Donāt Forget Trumbull!
I was enjoying the āCheck It Offā list in the recent issue of Ńż¼§Ö±²„ State Magazine [fall/winter 2019-20, page 28], but I was sad to see that the Trumbull Campus was not included in the Regional Campus section. I used to attend Trumbull when I first started my undergraduate degree here at Ńż¼§Ö±²„ State, and I was looking forward to seeing what fun items you had listed for my old campus. I couldnāt help but notice the question at the end stating, āWhat did we forget?ā and I figured Iād let you know that you forgot the Trumbull Campus!
B. Nicole Perry, AAS ā13, BS ā14, MEd ā18
Ńż¼§Ö±²„, Ohio
Editorās Note: So sorry about that! Last year we had students reach out to all the Ńż¼§Ö±²„ State campuses, but we never received an answer from Ńż¼§Ö±²„ State Trumbull. Since the story didnāt run until many months later, in the rush of deadlines I forgot that we hadnāt heard back from Trumbull, and no one noticed the omission on the proofs.
When I asked B. Nicole Perry to share what fun items she would list, she responded: āItās been a little while since Iāve been to the Trumbull Campus, so I apologize if any of these things are outdated: Read a copy of Trumbullās art and poetry magazine, ICON. Play a game of pool in the Student Union lounge. Visit the Link Art Gallery. Attend a free theatre workshop at the Trumbull Theatre.ā
We added her items to the online bucket list, and if other Ńż¼§Ö±²„ State Trumbull students or alumni would like to submit suggestions, weād be happy to add them to the list.
Long-time Reader
Terrific issue!!! As a long-time alumnus, and with a similarly long history of leafing through each and every issue of Ńż¼§Ö±²„ State Magazine, I just wish to say that I think the fall/winter issue featuring President Diacon to be especially well balanced and engaging. Way to go.
Jim Walker, BS ā73, MEd ā79
Massillon, Ohio
Making Travel Plans
Thank you for your repeatedly excellent magazine. I look forward to every issue and enjoy reading about the diverse activities and areas of research. I am a 1970 graduate and would like to travel to Ńż¼§Ö±²„ Stateās 2020 homecoming. Since it will probably draw a large number of graduates, Iād like to make my hotel reservation soon. However, I am having a problem finding the date for homecoming. Would you be able to tell me which weekend it will be? Thanks for your help!
Deborah Fox Leverett, BS ā70
Montclair, NJ
Editorās Note: Turns out, settling on a date for Homecoming is a little complicated. First, the final home schedule has to be confirmed with the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Mid-American Conference. Once dates are solidified, multiple parties at the universityāincluding institutional advancement, athletics, student affairs and government and community relationsāmeet together to determine a date for Homecoming that works best for the university, in coordination with the city of Ńż¼§Ö±²„. As of press time, because of the pandemic, the date of Homecoming is now on hold.
via Instagram
Categorical Acclaim
I found myself recognized in the Ńż¼§Ö±²„ State Magazine, which is pretty cool [fall/winter 2019-20, āClass Notes,ā page 40]. Those who know me well know that my years going to school at Ńż¼§Ö±²„ State University and living in the city of Ńż¼§Ö±²„ were the best times of my life.
There arenāt many places or things that Iām attached to, but walking on that campus is something that Iāll always cherish. The friendships I made, the things I learnedāmore so life lessons than classroom educationāare everlasting.
Sometimes I wish I lived back there, but I wanted to expand my horizons and grow, and I guess cat rescue is the latest extension of my growth. As an @ksualumni, I will give back whenever I can.
Paul Santell, BBA ā97
Astoria, NY
@paulthecatguy
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