A fatal incident marred the Ohio State University (OSU) spring graduation ceremony in Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday, May 5th, 2024. A woman fell from the stands of Ohio Stadium during the ceremony, resulting in her death.
The Columbus Police Department is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the 136-foot fall. Authorities believe the fall was not an accident nor due to foul play; suicide is suspected. The Franklin County coroner’s office confirmed the death of Larissa Brady, 53, from Georgia; she was identified through her fingerprints. She is the mother of one of the graduates.
The incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. EDT as graduates entered the stadium. Medics responded to the stadium’s gates after police reported the fall. Emergency personnel pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
OSU spokesperson Benjamin Johnson said, “Ohio State is grieving the death of Larissa Brady, a family member of one of our graduates. Our hearts go out to her family and friends during this exceptionally difficult time”.
Witnesses reported the fall occurred near gate 30 of the stadium. After the incident, police cordoned off the area. Some students and attendees, visibly shaken by the incident, were offered counseling and support resources by the university.
“It was shocking, absolutely unbelievable,” an eyewitness stated. They recalled seeing a lone individual fall as the last group of graduates entered the stadium. The witness specified that the fall occurred near the tunnel OSU football players used during home games.
Johnson added, “We will provide counseling and other support resources for anyone affected by today’s incident.”
OSU graduates, staff, and attendees are frustrated with the university’s incident handling. Despite the tragedy, the three-hour event continued uninterrupted with no acknowledgment of the death by the university.
Anthony Mullen, a graduate of OSU’s psychology program, experienced a mix of excitement and shock on his graduation day. His family traveled from Canton to celebrate what was supposed to be a joyous occasion.
Mullen expressed disappointment that the university did not address the death during the ceremony, leaving students in distress. “My heart goes out to them [the person’s family],” he said.
Dr. Pranav Jani, an OSU faculty member, understands the pressures faced by the university but believes the administration should have taken some action.
He offers an alternative scenario, suggesting a moment of silence or a brief announcement acknowledging the tragedy. Jani expressed shock and anger upon learning about the death via a message rather than from the university itself.
While there’s an understanding that the entire graduation couldn’t be canceled, both Mullen and Dr. Jani feel that the university’s complete silence on the matter was a significant misstep.
