Many eager Ohio University graduate students were awarded master's and doctoral degrees during Friday morning’s spring commencement in the Convocation Center.
Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Chubu University in Japan, Atsuo Iiyoshi, received an Honorary Doctor of Science degree. Iiyoshi is known for his research on plasma and nuclear fusion science and his strides to bring Chubu and OU closer together.
It is the 50th anniversary of OU and Chubu’s formal cultural exchange program. Throughout the years, Chubu has donated many cherry trees to OU.
Iiyoshi could not attend the commencement ceremony, so he recorded a video thanking OU for the honorary degree, which can be found on Ohio University’s commencement website. In the video, Iiyoshi said to honor the 50th anniversary of the universities’ connection, Chubu will gift additional cherry trees to the university.
Saumya Pant, director of communication and development studies and professor of instruction in the school of media arts and studies, gave the commencement address. She told the graduating students two stories about the power of storytelling.
Before she started, she acknowledged the traditional territories of the Osage, Shawnee, Kaskaskia, Hopewell, Edina and Ofo indigenous nations; these territories are now considered Athens, Pant said.
The first story was about the Sámi people who received more than 500 years of persecution, Pant said. She said for a long time, the Sámi were not allowed to speak their own language or sing their own songs, so the Sámi told their stories in a traditional form of song called Joik.
“Joik is not about something, it is that something,” Pant said. “It does not begin and it does not end, it does not need to have words. Its narrative is in its power as it can tell a life story in a song.”
Pant explained how, for Sámi people, Joik was a means of resistance and a method to preserve their cultural identity because their stories matter.
Her second story was about a Hindi radio soap opera in India that addressed dowry-related violence. Pant said the story’s main character demanded she will not marry someone who demands dowry, and she convinced her parents to allow her to learn typing so she could have the skill to be economically self-sufficient after marriage.
Pant said an 18-year-old named Seema, who consistently listens to the soap opera, modeled herself after the protagonist and made the same demands to her parents when they were looking for her husband.
“This story will change not only Seema’s life but lives of generations of women after her because stories matter,” Pant said. “Now that you will be a graduate from Ohio University, a great privilege, make a decision to use your privilege and your voice for the things that really matter.”
One of the final messages before degrees were awarded was the annual outstanding graduate faculty award, which is decided by graduate students. This year it was awarded to Erin Morgenstern, a visiting assistant professor, and program coordinator for the higher education and student affairs graduate programs.
“Dr. Morgenstern’s unwavering commitment to her students is truly remarkable,” Elizabeth Sayrs, executive vice president and provost, said. “She believes that everyone has a unique story that deserves to be heard and understood before any learning can take place.”
The ceremony marks OU President Hugh Sherman’s last commencement weekend before he hands the position to the university’s newly-elected president, Lori Stewart Gonzalez, next month.
Matthew Evans, a member of the Board of Trustees, gave the closing remarks of the commencement and, despite saying Sherman was giving him a “dirty look” for mentioning it, he made sure to give him a special thank you.
“On behalf of everyone here, I’d like to thank you, President Sherman, for your many years and dedication and service to our great university,” Evans said. “We wish you luck and happiness on your next chapter.”
Evans then announced the 2023 spring doctoral students. The graduating students approached the podium with their respective faculty members to receive their hoods.
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