A Letter from the '74 50th Reunion Committee

Let your mind wander back to September, 1970. It is the day you are movinginto your dorm room at OWU. You meet a stranger you will live with for theyear, crossing your fingers that the stranger will become your friend. You saygoodbye to your family as you unload the last suitcase. Yes! You promiseto call every Sunday night from the phone booth at the end of your hall...calling collect, of course. You are now a member of the largest class at OhioWesleyan. There are 926 of us baby boomers.

We were beginning our college life with the Vietnam War always on ourminds, made so intensely real by the tragedy of the Kent State shootings.In our class discussions, we were learning to think critically and begin tofind our place, not only in the world of OWU but in the world at large. Wewere also part of a rich campus life. Remember tray sledding down StuyHill, the only Election Break, Saturday steak nights, 3.2 beer, typewritersand Wite-Out, great albums playing on record players, bellbottoms!

The privilege of being an OWU student came with a financial cost. In the midst of finding our place academically and socially, we might have been unaware of the true cost of access to the wonderful education we were being offered. Some of us were reminded by our campus jobs and student loans we would need to repay. However, did any of us realize that what we and our families were paying did not cover the entire cost of our education? Rather, it was the generosity of alumni who came before us.

_{In the fall of 1970, annual tuition, room, and board was $3,325. Today, it is $65,937.}

Scholarships, faculty, and programs depended on philanthropic support as much then as they do today.

The legacy of giving now passes to us as we look forward to celebrating our 50th Reunion May 17–19, 2024. It is notable that 99% of current OWU students receive merit- or need-based financial aid.

Our 50th Reunion Class Gift will support student scholarships and other areas of greatest need, and it will ensure that current and future Bishops will one day celebrate their 50th reunions.

We already hold a place in Ohio Wesleyan history by being the largest class ever enrolled. Can we also become the largest number of alums to donate to a 50th Reunion Class Gift? Let's make history! If we all commit to give to our Class Gift, we will reach our goal of $350,000.

Please join us in donating to honor our 50th Reunion and the rich OWU legacy we share!

Share your gift commitment online (owu.edu/1974gift) or through our printable class form!