9 charming traditions and urban legends at Ohio colleges

The Long Walk at Ohio State

Legend says that if a couple can walk hand in hand down the length of The Oval without having somebody cross their path, they are destined to stay together forever. The path is more than 1,200 feet long.

The Seal at Bowling Green

This legend says that is a student passes to the right of the on-campus seal, they will do well on their next test. However, if they pass to the left, they will fail.

It is also said that if students stand on the seal at midnight and kiss their sweethearts, they will soon be married.

Thomas Edison at Cincinnati

Rumor has it that Thomas Edison read every book in the then-Ohio Mechanics Institute (now known as the College of Applied Science) library.

Edison worked as a telegraph operator in Cincinnati and went to the Ohio Mechanics Institute library to read. University of Cincinnati Archivist Kevin Grace calculated Edison would have had to read 27 books a day and be fluent in six different languages to read the collection’s 10,000 volumes.

James Nippert buried at Nippert Stadium

There’s a myth on that University of Cincinnati’s campus that James Gamble Nippert is buried beneath his memorial at the south end of Nippert Stadium. Nippert was a member of the Bearcats football team when he sustained injuries that turned deadly during the 1923 Thanksgiving Day game.

Nippert’s final resting place is at the Spring Grove Cemetery, where the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity has a memorial service each year.

Haunted halls at Dayton

Liberty Hall, between St. Joseph Hall and Immaculate Conception Chapel, is rumored to house a ghost from when the hall was an infirmary.

Mary Niebler, class of 1998, told the UD Quickly, "When I was in graduate school at UD, I saw a foot and a pants leg out of the corner of my eye on the second floor, but I was the only one in the building."

Turtle Heads at Miami

In Quad Central behind Warfield and MacMillan halls stands the Tri Delta Sundial at Miami University. Rumor has it that rubbing one of the heads of the copper turtles will bring the student good luck. Furthermore, if done before an exam, it is said the student will receive an “A.”

» READ MORE: 3 legends every Miami University student should know

Graffiti Wall at Ohio University

Every school needs a space for students to let loose and express themselves, and the graffiti wall is that spot for students at Ohio University. The wall has been used for everything from artwork to wedding proposals.

Stealing an Athens brick at Ohio University

The tradition of stealing bricks from streets and sidewalks began in the 1960s as a way for graduates to keep a part of the school with them. Students run the risk of being caught stealing a brick and could face consequences ranging from a $1,000 fine to six months in jail.

Raidersgiving at Wright State

Students who stay on Wright State’s campus during Thanksgiving break have a chance to celebrate the holiday with other students, staff and faculty. Hundreds gather at the Nutter Center to enjoy good food, good conversation and fun games. The tradition began in 2012 when the school transitioned from quarters to semesters.