A 64-year tradition is about to be changed at Ohio State.Although members of the OSU Board of Trustees were urged to reconsider the removal and relocation of the Stadium Scholarship Dorms, the decision will remain.”We apologize for the fact the stadium dorms have to move,” said David Williams II, vice president for student affairs. “There is no other way to renovate the stadium.”The $150 million stadium renovation, which requires the dorms to be removed, was approved at Friday’s trustee meeting in Drinko Hall. Barbara Letcher, president of the Stadium Scholarship Dormitory Alumni Society, spoke to the board on behalf of the 10,000 past residents. She said she thinks OSU would be wise to maintain the stadium dorms. “I urge you to consider the consequences of adding a few thousand seats to the football stadium,” said Letcher.The dorms are an environment of great enthusiasm, Letcher said. Its residents have had the highest overall grade point averages than the students of any other dorm, she said. If the board does not reconsider the decision to relocate the dorms, they will be taking away a unique home from student residents, Letcher concluded.The dorm will possibly be moved to Mack Hall, Williams said. Students could also be located in Pomerene Hall, he said.”We sometimes have conflicts,” OSU President E. Gordon Gee said. “They are unavoidable.”Both the stadium and the dorms are two tremendous assets to the university, he added, but “we must renovate and we must renovate now.” Gee emphasized the renovation could not take place without the removing the dorm.”I think he’s (Gee) correct,” Letcher said. “The renovations need to be made.”But Letcher said she believes there are always other options. The cooperative housing could possibly be continued in Mack Hall, but she hopes this will be a temporary move, she said.”Ideally in the future we would like to see the student dorm back in or near the stadium,” Letcher said.Other items addressed at Friday’s board meeting include:

  • Janet Pichette, vice president for business and administration said that OSU’s finances are in good shape.
  • Susan L. Huntington, dean of graduate school admissions discussed current issues facing OSU’s 10,400 graduate students.
  • A proposal for a new Science and Technology Campus, which will strengthen instruction and research, was made by David N. Allen, director of the office of technology.
  • Eric Reeves, president of the Interprofessional Student Council said USG is discussing ways to have quality student legal services at OSU.