Like ‘a rock star’
Some 40 years later, alumnus meets his idol
T
he website MyPlan.com claims to provide “the most accurate and up-to-date information you can find anywhere about colleges, careers and majors.” One of its college ranking categories is “overall satisfaction and happiness with choice.” And the past several times it has updated this category, the same school has come out on top: Ohio University. You won’t get any argument from me. I love Ohio University. I went to school there. Our daughter went to school there. Our nephew went to school there. His wife went to school there. We even had a dog that spent two years in Ohio University off-campus housing. And I know exactly when the love affair started. The Jan. 15, 1965, issue of Life magazine ran a feature on Vernon R. Alden, president of Ohio University at the time, elaborating on his accomplishments and plans for the school. In case you have forgotten or never knew, a feature in Life magazine was the equivalent of a segment on “60 Minutes” today. And what a story it was: 14 pages of how this human dynamo, Vernon R. Alden, was putting Ohio University on the map; attracting top students and faculty; working weekly in Washington, D.C., with the Job Corps; getting President Lyndon Johnson to debut his plans for the Great Society in a speech from Athens; doubling enrollment and faculty within the decade; working with the Army Corps of Engineers to move the Hocking River to stop the flooding that had plagued the campus. It was thrilling. Fourteen pages in Life! By comparison, the cover story about Ted Kennedy was seven pages. And one on America’s most exciting athletes, Joe Namath, was two pages. I was sold. If a university president could be compared to a rock star, Vernon Alden was it. Two months later I sent my application. And in September 1965 I began my journey of “overall satisfaction and happiness with my choice” of Ohio University. I was just there not too long ago. A friend and I attended an Ohio basketball game. It was fun and nostalgic, and we swapped stories
Also in 1962 ... Ohio University welcomed Vernon R. Alden as its 15th president, but he wasn’t the only Bobcat earning recognition for his hard work. The year was filled with memorable moments and milestones: • Nine graduate students and six faculty members of the electrical engineering department conducted a research project on leak detection in missiles on behalf of NASA.
• Eleven students joined 6,000 others in a national February march for peace in Washington. The twoday event included picketing for disarmament at the Soviet Embassy and a meeting with the office of Ohio Sen. Steven Young. • Doctoral programs in English and clinical-counseling psychology were approved. At the time, only four other doctorates were offered: chemistry, education, speech and physics.
the whole time. Then, just after halftime, the announcer called our attention to a special guest in attendance: Vernon R. Alden. Even my friend, an Ohio State alumnus, knew of Alden’s substantial reputation. But I embellished it further. “Oh, man,” I said. “He did more for this school than anyone before or since. He got people excited about Ohio University. He put this place on the map. Wow!” Dr. Alden stood when he was introduced, leaned a bit on his cane and waved to the 6,400 of us in attendance that day. I felt very warmly about seeing him there. From that point on I found myself watching him almost as much as I watched the game. When the game ended, my friend and I were crossing the street, toward the building where Alden had presided over seven graduations ... half a block from the river he had caused to be moved ... down the hill from the 3-million-volume library named after him ... across from more than 6,000 dormitory rooms constructed during his tenure, when we came upon two men moving slowly down the sidewalk. It was Vernon R. Alden and his Ohio University host. I did not hesitate, hurrying after them and extending my hand. “Dr. Alden? Jim Busek, class of 1969. I just wanted to say Ohio University is one of the best things that ever happened to me. And you are the main reason I came here. Thank you for everything you did while you were here.” He clasped my hand with his wizened one; the same hand that had welcomed Presidents Johnson and Eisenhower to campus, smiled his famous easy smile and nodded his appreciation for my comments. “He’s 87,” the man with him said. I wished him a long and healthy life and walked to my car, across the campus that Vernon R. Alden had put on the national map, savoring a sweet moment with a man who in my mind is even bigger than Life. Reprinted with permission from the Norwalk (Conn.) Reflector. Jim Busek, BBA ’69, is a freelance writer and can be reached at jimbusek@hotmail.com.
• The school of architecture found a new home in the Space Arts building, whose basic layout was designed by advanced architecture students. It was the first time the entire school was under the same roof. • Jefferson and Shively dining halls received music sound systems over winter break. Thanks to the new phonograph players, speakers, cabinets and microphones, students could enjoy music with their meals.
—compiled by Lynsie Dickerson Photo Courtesy of Mahn Center for Archives and Special Collections
spring 2012
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