For some people, college is the best time of their life — so much so that some alumni want to stay there forever and request to have their ashes sprinkled at their alma mater.
Although there is no state law or ordinance that prohibits it, the decision is left to universities, said John Biancamano, director of Ohio University’s Legal Affairs.
Often universities decide not to allow people to spread their ashes on campus, afraid that it will start a trend.
“It would open up a whole can of worms,” said Jim Boon, executive director of the alumni association at the University of Texas, in an article from the Chronicle of Higher Education.
It begs the question of who can spread ashes, as well as where and whether ceremonies will be permitted, Boon said in the article.
OU’s Alumni Association has received no requests from alumni to sprinkle the remains of loved ones on campus in at least ten years.
Biancamano said he knows of no university policy regarding sprinkling ashes on campus and is unsure whether or not it would be permitted at OU.
“When something like this is done, it needs to be done in a respectful matter,” he said.
-Caitlin Bowling
