Ohio State welcomed its freshman class of Buckeyes — estimated to make up at least 9,000 students as the largest class in the university’s history — at Convocation Monday, the book-end ceremony to Commencement. After the Ohio State University Marching Band finished its round of upbeat songs as the freshman class filed in, Melissa Shivers, senior vice president for Student Life, opened Convocation with a lesson about how connected Ohio State is as a community. “Have no doubt when you call ‘O-H-,’ you will indeed get the response of ‘I-O,’” Shivers said. “There is something very comforting in that. It means that we are connected and part of a larger and stronger entity. It means we are family. The other thing about the ‘O-H-I-O’ chant is that you simply cannot do it alone.” ————————————————————————— 📸 Shoulder to shoulder, students sing “Carmen Ohio” to bookend their experience at Monday’s Convocation. Credit: Sandra Fu | Photo Editor