The Ohio Staters, a faculty, staff and student service organization, opened the University Museum in University Hall yesterday. It was only 30 years late.

In the 1960s, University Hall was torn down and replaced.

“This building was constructed to look like the old building,” said John Mount, vice president and dean emeritus, who was the secretary to the Board of Trustees when the building project began. “The two lower rooms were designated to hold memorabilia. It is great that this has happened because of student leadership.”

Through 3 1/2 years of work by Jason Cervenec, a graduate student and an Ohio Stater, the initial intent has been met.

“The museum will provide a unique place on campus to study and for informal learning,” Cervenec said.

Cervenec began the project after hearing interesting stories about university history from Bill Wahl, the retired head of Communication and Visitor Relations. Wahl was the faculty adviser for Ohio Staters, and it was his idea to create the museum.

“In order to go forward we have to look back on where we’ve been.” Cervenec said.

“This is a historic place and it meets the need we see to show what we all have in common,” said Raimund Goerler, a university archivist.

Goerler’s office, the Ohio State University Archives, is responsible for identifying, preserving and making available records and papers of continuing importance. Goerler was heavily involved in providing university artifacts for the museum.

The current exhibit concentrates on freshmen. In the past OSU freshmen were required to follow many rules that are now obsolete and quite humorous.

In the 1930s, all freshmen were required to wear a beanie while on campus, attend all home football games and were not permitted to walk down the long walkway on the Oval. Freshmen that did not obey the rules risked the punishment of being tossed into Mirror Lake.

The museum should play an important role in a possible new academic class on the history of OSU, according to Provost Ed Ray,

“One way to make history real is to take the place they are and help them understand where it came from,” Ray said.

The Men’s Glee Club sang at the grand opening.

“It is very appropriate to have one of the oldest organizations sing at this,” Mount said.