Carmen, Ohio 43210
The Story
When I first arrived at The Ohio State University to start graduate school, I needed to buy some stamps. Cathy Ellis, the graduate secretary of the Art Department, told me to go to the post office across the street from the new Math Tower building. When I arrived at the post office, I noticed it looked like an authentic United States Post Office, with post office vehicles parked in front. I went inside the building and saw that it was more extensive than post offices in small towns. Being from a small town in East Texas, I was impressed by how professional the building looked. It had all the trimmings of an actual post office, including employees dressed in genuine United States Postal Service uniforms.
During my undergraduate years, I was familiar with college post offices run by the staff. A mail carrier from the United States Postal Service (USPS) would deliver the mail to campus, and college mail staff would distribute mail around campus. When I bought my stamps, I asked the lady behind the counter if this was the tOSU post office or the USPS. She told me the building was the USPS, and she worked for the USPS, not the university. She explained that the size of the school's faculty, staff, and student population was so significant that it needed its own zip code, 43210.
The three largest cities in Ohio are Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus. So why not call the campus Carmen? It has its zip code. I had been on campus for two weeks and noticed that it was a city unto itself and distinguished from Columbus despite being surrounded by the city. I thought about Bellaire, Texas. Bellaire is an incorporated city also located inside Houston, Texas.
So, I began considering the campus as a city inside Columbus. The school song at tOSU is “Carmen Ohio.” So, I started referring to the campus as the city of Carmen, Ohio, 43210. The locals referred to the campus area as the tOSU District because it has all the features of an independent city or township. The campus had TV and radio stations and a bus system with routes and bus stops. With 60,000 students and its zip code, 43210, the campus had a larger population than my hometown of Henderson, TX (13,271).
Each department was like a suburb or community, with 32 libraries on campus. The school had a metropolitan feel, with the Olentangy River dividing the Main Campus from the West Campus. To go from the Main and West campus, you could drive down Lane Avenue and cross the world’s smallest suspension bridge. The suspension bridge made rowing in the river more manageable for the tOSU Crew Team.
You could go to the Ohio Union or Drake Union and go bowling, play, or watch a movie. Dance and music performances and the Wexner Center for the Arts are on campus. You could play golf or head over to one of the many recreation gyms on campus. Many students spent their Friday evenings at the math tower watching 6 hours of anime movies. There were so many activities and organizations on campus that you could always stay energized. Every Buckeye will remember the High Street nightlife and surrounding district community. The food, drinks, and entertainment gave the community a distinct style and culture.
I got my MFA degree and gained lifelong friends and memories at tOSU. However, moving back to Texas to teach created challenges in getting Buckeye apparel. I wasn’t in Columbus anymore. And with family members who are UT-Longhorn alumni, I was quickly ostracized for wearing my Scarlet and Grey. But I endured and later thrived. As an artist with a Printmaking degree, I began screen printing Buckeye apparel for myself. I thought about the “Carmen, Ohio 43210” concept and quickly started printing t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies with the slogans. This allowed me to have my own Buckeye clothing when I wanted it while living in a state of Burnt Orange and Maroon.
Over the past 26-plus years, I have encountered Buckeye alums wearing their Ohio State gear during football and basketball seasons. I would greet them with an OH !!! They would be surprised but would happily say IO !!! They would inquire about my Scarlet Grey clothing with “Carmen, Ohio” or “THE 43210” printed on them. After hearing my explanation, they wanted to acquire a t-shirt or hoodie. If I had a few t-shirts in my vehicle, I would give them away or sell them at cost.
I realized the phrase “Carmen, Ohio” is something only a true Buckeye would understand. Many tOSU alumni suggested I start selling the brand Carmen, Ohio 43210 to Buckeye fans everywhere, not just in Texas. So, I set up an online store to bring my designs and clothing line to the internet for The Nutty Nation. I named the online store Carmen, Ohio 43210.
Carmen Ohio 43210 provides apparel and accessories for Native Ohioans, Ohio residents, and true fans of Ohio State Buckeyes. The city and concept of Carmen, Ohio, is the Heart of Buckeye Nation. If you want to show love for everything about The Ohio State University and its campus, this is where you buy clothing and accessories to claim your bragging rights. OH !!